27 May 2022
A much-needed rest day today…in pretty Perast! After four huge days….and very little sleep. Simply too hot….and a pillow like a rock!
Catching up on blog, washing, swimming, siesta, swimming, beers, dinner, bed.
And a mixed emotion day. As I noted yesterday….with Iain’s arrival, Martin decided to hand over here (instead of the planned change of riders in Podgorica)….so after more than a month of riding, breakfasting, lunching (too often on peanuts!!), dinnering and drinking together this was to be our last day together. Its been a blast…and we have travelled well together! So…thank you Martin…for being such a good mate! Despite the odd jibe about drinking…or smoking too much!! Over 2,000kms together through six countries…and 20,379m of climbing (according to Strava!).
(…I will only add here…..Alan and I discussed on our last trip about those involuntary noises we all make….which become more pronounced post-50. Grunts as you bend down, pick up stuff, sighs as you sit down, or stand up…..lift a kettle…take out a tea bag…..whatever…well….Martin is the master!!! Not a bad trait…for he is a difficult man to tease about much really!!…)
And mixed emotion…for we now start a new chapter with Iain taking the baton for the onward journey to Athens. It is certainly going to be different!! How different….we will all discover! Haha!!
Best photo bomb today. There was a wedding at the neighbouring hotel…and just as Martin and I were leaving for our first swim of the day…the bride and groom were artfully arranged on the stairs down from our apartment, leaving a steep slippery ramp to climb down on. The bride kindly offered a hand of support…which I gladly took…and as I looked up at her with a grateful smile…the photographer took the photo of the day!! (It was very funny…must try and get hold of the photographer!).
We all agreed that Perast has a slightly uncomfortable feel to it…as if it is controlled by some form of Mafia equivalent. Is that the Russion influence? Not sure…but despite its prettiness it is a bit discomfiting. Liz and I had the same feeling when we last visited…but it is a heap worse now.
Anyway….a few photos of my own….Perast:
Lovely to see my favourite son!
Can’t believe the first leg is over. Martin you’re a star….and pleased to hear you picked up where I left off in the “ advice” delivery🤣
Oooh and I see “shopska” salad 😋