Kotor in Montenegro is one of those places that makes an immediate impression. A beautiful medieval city, full of narrow streets, squares and walls that have clearly endured many centuries. In the evening, I walked around there with my wife. We feasted our eyes, but at the same time I noticed that it was difficult to really unwind. It…
Kotor in Montenegro is one of those places that makes an immediate impression. A beautiful medieval city, full of narrow streets, squares and walls that have clearly endured many centuries. In the evening, I walked around there with my wife. We feasted our eyes, but at the same time I noticed that it was difficult to really unwind. It was teeming with tourists. Everyone, like me, was looking for that one beautiful picture. Cameras up, wait a moment, move on again. The city was beautiful, but also crowded and restless.
That evening, we decided to do things differently. The alarm went off at five-thirty. Still sleepy, at six o'clock we stood in the centre of Kotor, which was completely silent. No people, no voices, just the soft morning light and the sound of our footsteps on the stones. For an hour and a half, I was able to photograph without even catching sight of anyone. That felt almost unreal.
In that early morning, Kotor showed itself from a very different side. Quiet, subdued, almost vulnerable. The city seemed to belong to itself for a moment, detached from schedules, cruises and day-trippers. The light fell beautifully along the facades, the streets gained depth and character.
In that moment, it felt like we were not travelling, but standing somewhere between time and place. Away from the present for a moment. You really imagine yourself in another world.