thetrainfamilyAfter some lovely days in Nikšić and especially enjoying a swim in Lake Krupac, we had to move on. We took the train to Podgorica and had a bit of waiting time there before the train to Bar departed. The platform was crowded with travelers, and the train was delayed. I walked around the platform for a bit and heard many different languages. It’s definitely still high season in Montenegro. I also managed to make a couple of videos for Instagram of incoming trains. Finally, our train arrived.
The Podgorica to Bar Regional Train
It was a regular regional train to Bar and not the Belgrade to Bar train. There were already many people on the train, and many more were getting on from Podgorica, so we were on our toes to find seats. Fortunately, we all managed to get seats in the same compartment. There was a lady sitting next to us. The train was the worst out of all the train journeys we’ve had, and that’s saying a lot. It was ancient. The air conditioning must have worked at some point, and we wished it still did, because it was over 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) in the compartment. Luckily, we managed to open the window, which made the lady happy. Now, cooling 35-degree warm air streamed in from outside. Our fellow passenger – let’s call her Dorotina – had brought a towel for wiping off sweat, which she used diligently. Our children preferred not to sit on the seats, as they clearly showed 40+ years of intensive use. The toilet was something we didn’t dare to acquaint ourselves with, although the smell indicated that there was indeed a toilet somewhere. There were also some wires sticking out of a wall where the “occupied” sign for the toilet is usually placed. But the view was fantastic.
Crossing Lake Skadar
We crossed over Lake Skadar, the largest lake in Southern Europe. Many passengers got off the train here, probably to swim and hike in this beautiful area. The region where the lake is located is part of various nature reserves and boasts a unique plant and animal life. We continued our journey to Bar and arrived without any announcement over the intercom. Therefore, we also stood up at the stop before Bar, unsure of when we had reached our destination. But Bar was indeed the end station, so we disembarked.
Arriving in Bar
The train station was somewhat reminiscent of the one in Podgorica and had a slightly “Wild West” feel to it. We walked the short distance to the bus station. It looked like it was when it was built – sometime in the mid-1980s (I guess). We purchased bus tickets to Utjeha. There were no information boards or any kind of signs like the ones we’re used to. So when the bus didn’t arrive at the time stated on the ticket, we began asking around a bit. We were told that there are many private bus companies operating from the bus station and that we should pay attention to the company name listed on the bus ticket. This advice helped us, and we kept a close eye out as the different buses pulled in.
Bus Journey to Utjeha
It was a nice, large bus we were supposed to take. There were even seat belts. We closely followed Google Maps as we traveled so that we knew when to get off. We got off at a pull-off area by the roadside in front of the kiosk in Utjeha. The journey was successful. Wonderful.
The following days were spent swimming, swimming, and more swimming in the turquoise blue sea. Montenegro is simply delightful.
