WELCOME TO 2-2-2 TUESDAY
Here are 2 Cultural Highlights, 2 Quotes, and 2 Brief Stories for you to enjoy.
Inspired by Montenegro (Ulcinj, and Kotor)
2 CULTURAL HIGHLIGHTS
1.
Sun, Sand, and Serenity:
Picture this: you’ve conquered a challenging hike, your legs ache, and your energy is completely drained. If you could magically transport anywhere in the world, where might you go for rejuvenation?
Just for fun, make a mental list of relaxing destinations for five to ten seconds…
My guess is Montenegro didn’t make your list.
Yet, this gem in Southeastern Europe was the secret sauce for our recovery after coming down from the Albanian Alps.
“Montenegro!?,” you might ask in surprise.
Yes. Montenegro.
In Ulcinj: Inhale an unlimited supply of fresh, crisp, coastal air. Soak up warm sunshine. Sink your feet into soft sandy beaches of Ulcinj. Listen to the gentle waves lapping against the shore. On the edge off the beach, appreciate the old town’s ancient stone walls, and winding alleys.
In Kotor Bay: Take a dip in refreshingly crystal clear waters of the Adriatic Sea. As you come out of the water, awe-inspiring fjords greet you.
In summary, consider Montenegro for that list next time.
2.
“Montenegro Fun Fact Fiesta!
What do you know about Montenegro? If you’re anything like us (before we visited), you may not know a darn thing about this country. Truth be told, we didn’t even know it was a country before we started this trip.
Before we start, remember that learning new facts each day may help prevent Alzheimer’s. We’ve got you covered today.
Here’s a rapid fire of interesting facts about Montenegro.
- Montenegro is one of the world’s youngest countries = 2006
- National language? Montenegrin. It’s similar to Serbian, Croatian, and Bosnian.
- National currency is the Euro (even though it’s not part of the European Union. Hmm).
- It has the second deepest canyon in the world, after the Grand Canyon.
- Kotor Bay is home to the only fjords in the Mediterranean. Stunning views.
- It has a 2000 year-old olive tree, called Stara Maslina
- Contains the oldest European manmade island (according to our boat guide)! Fisherman created the foundation by sinking old ships with rocks starting in the 15th century. Today, ”Our Lady of the Rocks” is a beauty.
- Contains a Blue Cave. The entire cave is a vibrant blue illuminated by the deep blue water. It’s only accessible by boat. It’s an amazing experience to swim inside!
- Montenegro, means “Black Mountain” in the local language. The name derives from the dark forests that cover the mountains throughout the country.
- Montenegro has been associated with various powers and empires throughout its history. These include the Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, Venetian Republic, Ottoman Empire, Austro-Hungarian Empire, Kingdom of Yugoslavia, and Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
2 Quotes to Consider
- “Happiness is an inside job.” William Arthur Ward
- “There’s no difference between a pessimist who says, ‘Oh, it’s hopeless, so don’t bother doing anything,’ and an optimist who says, ‘Don’t bother doing anything, it’s going to turn out fine anyway.’ Either way, nothing happens.”
— Yvon Chouinard
2 Brief Stories
1.
Smiling Is Contagious:
Have you crossed paths with a real-life guardian angel in your community? Someone in your life who just lights up everyone around them?
Biljana was such a woman in the Bay of Kotor. She was a kind, middle-aged clerk at a grocery store conveniently located below our apartment. Farah described her best when she said, “She’s the most smiley person we’ve seen in the Balkans.”
In the span of a few days, we made at least six or seven trips to grab groceries, snacks, baked goods, more snacks, and water. Oh, and of course a couple of ice cream runs! Somehow, she was our cashier, every time, no matter the time of the day or night.
She consistently shined as she greeted us with kindness. “What the heck is she so happy about?”, we wondered.” There was nothing particularly special about her work environment. On the contrary, it felt more like a grungy Seven Eleven than a grocery store. The lighting was poor and there weren’t many decorations. The customers didn’t seem overly excited to be there. And the job itself seemed like it would get very monotonous in my opinion. Yet…she radiated joy.
Obviously, we’re glad we met her. Our interactions were honestly one of the brightest highlights of our time in Kotor in the most unlikely of settings.
She reminded us that happiness is an inside job. That the internal environment doesn’t have to reflect the external environment.
2.
Dream Vs Reality:
Do you ever think about dream jobs?
Imagine, for example, that it’s your job to go boating in the beautiful Adriatic Sea near Italy, Greece, and Montenegro. Every day, you feel the wind through your hair as you wave to other boaters and behold massive mountains. Not too shabby, right?
At first glance, this is how we viewed boat tour companies in Kotor Bay.
Then we met Adela and Luka, who are owners and operators of a small tour boat. Adela ran the sales and Luka captained the boat. They were friendly, welcoming, and thoughtful in their interactions with customers.
We joined Luka on a one-of-a-kind tour to the Blue Cave, which was an incredible trip on many levels. We also bumped into them on a few different occasions outside of the trip, which gave us insights into their less glamorous business activities. It gave us a much greater appreciation for the challenges they overcome.
Here’s a quick look at some of the “behind the scenes,” less appealing tasks they face running their small business:
- Paycheck Uncertainty: Without guaranteed income, they have to outperform competitors just to make ends meet. They run on very thin margins even if they fill up all of their tours.
- Long Hours: They run back to back, three hour tours at 9a, 12p, and 3p. However, they stay until 8:30-9p on most nights trying to sell seats.
- Maintenance & Fuel: Routine boat maintenance, fuel, and repairs are very expensive even without the emotional costs of unforeseen problems
- Poor Weather: Rain or shine, the show must go on. After finishing our tour, Luka went right back out into a storm with the next group.
- Other challenges include the many physical demands and inevitable disrespectful customers
This is one example, but hopefully this story paints a picture that there’s always more than meets the eye when it comes to business operations. We appreciated the many opportunities to learn from incredible folks we encounter.
Luka and Adela certainly deserve to feel that wind through their hair each day!
Thanks for tuning in to 2-2-2 Tuesday!
If you have any feedback, comments, or suggestions, we’d love to hear from you. Have a wonderful week!
– Zack and Farah
I loved hearing about this place! I’m so so curious about the wide stone staircase with an open red curtain partway up and colorful pillows on the steps! Would love to hear the story behind that! 😊