20-22-Feb-25 Podgorica, Montenegro, and Vienna, Austria

Final brew with a view. Shall miss this view.

Now homeward bound. After a relaxing few days on the Adriatic. As you can perhaps tell, dear reader, not a very exciting blog, as not much done. Just a bit of pottering. This sector was all about eating up the miles to head further east.

Follow the Adriatic coast to Bar. One main road. Pop into Budvar to have a look but like other places. Car parking is a nightmare. And not particularly wanting to leave car with all my worldly possessions in. Lest they get nicked.

Stunning coastline as I head further south towards Albania. Arrive Bar in time for lunch. Park at King Nikola’s Palace. To discover it’s shut. For a refurb. Built in 1885 it looks more like a large house than palace. So cross the road to the Jovan Vladimir Church. Its white exterior set off against a deep blue sky. Expecting it to be over 200 years old discover it was completed less than ten years ago. As with all these Orthodox churches. Gold leaf is prevalent. To give a nice warm feel.

Brief stop at one of the world’s oldest olive trees. Set in an enclosure. Costs EUR2 to enter. But I can see it from outside. Over the wall. So don’t.

Leaving the coast behind head back to Podgorica via Shkodra Lake. Snow capped mountains to the south form the border with Albania.

Great driving day with amazing scenery.

Overnight in Podgorica. And another excellent top notch restaurant. Worth returning to Podgorica for the restaurants I’ve eaten at again. Very impressed.

Airport information states that they will only allow bags of a certain size through as hand luggage. Irrespective of airline. Had this problem before in Pisa airport. Might have been a little rumpus with a jobsworth security bod back then. Vehemently against checking in my bag. It’s alright for normal sized people who can pop in to a local shop and buy clothes if bag gets lost or delayed. I can’t do that, dear reader. Not being normal sized.

Reluctantly check in bag. And track it with my Samsung Air Tag to ensure it’s loaded on the aircraft. So can relax a little.

Podgorica Airport somewhat small.

Airside is only opened to certain flights at a certain time. To avoid overcrowding the departure gates. And security. Once through. Realise why. My lounge is bigger.

Return to Vienna. And the freezing cold. Now 2C. Has been about 15C in Montenegro. The perfect temperature.

Airport hotel overnight (https://www.nh-hotels.com/en/hotel/nh-vienna-airport-conference-center) to save to-ing and fro-ing into the city centre.

Paid for extra leg room seat. But system not letting me check in to that seat. Requires queuing at counter. And dealing with a young girl. Who is saying it’s not possible. In a computer says no sort of way. It is. Get it sorted. Can’t fit in any other seat you see. She has to ring IT. To change some setting on her system. To open the seating allocations. After a lot of faff. It is done. And Fast Track through security.

To find a quiet spot for my morning brew. Order a large Americano. Then have two more whilst waiting to board. Barista asks if I’m OK. Er yes. Why? Well apparently, I’ve just drunk the equivalent of six espressos. In less than an hour.

Buzzing.

Time to board. I know my hand luggage exceeds the weight and size of allowable on board bags. As it always does. I can see that the boarding gates are electronic gates. You scan your boarding pass and gates open to allow you through. This means that boarding staff aren’t generally checking you individually. It usually means it’s easier to get through with oversized and overweight bags.

So. I’ll just loiter behind a column. Out of sight of the boarding gate staff. To avoid attracting any attention. Under the radar like. Stealthy.

And then.

Ding. Dong.

Would Touring Taurean come to the boarding desk.

Oh FFS.

Now what.

As I’m in an exit row they need to visually check that I’m not a quadriplegic and can physically open the exit door.

And am asked. Do you have any hand luggage.

And this is where the nonsense starts.

And a little rumpus.

Can hardly say no as it’s standing by my side. Visible to all.

Am told it needs a luggage tag. And to be taken away at the door by baggage handler.

Erm why?

You’re in an exit row.

Yes. But how does that affect my bag in the overhead locker.

More nonsense.

Made to put tag on bag.

For it to be collected at aircraft door.

Sod that.

Take coat out of bag.

Put coat over bag as I go down the air bridge.

To hide the luggage tag.

And walk on board. Putting bag in overhead locker. Tag being hidden by coat all the time.

Sit down.

And then realise that if they have given me a luggage tag. That will show on their system as being a bag in the hold. And when they do a bag count in the hold for security purposes they’ll realise a bag is missing. And the flight will be delayed. Whilst they check.

Sod it.

Keep a beady eye on the crew and ground handling staff. Just waiting for one of them to walk up to me.

But no.

Doors to automatic. And cross check.

And off we go.

With my precious bag above my head in a locker.

That’s how you do it, dear reader.

And now Sector 3 will be coming shortly. Resuming the trail in Vienna and travelling by train to Istanbul.

Laters!