August 15, 2020 - The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is traditionally celebrated in Boka on the island of Our Lady of the Rocks with Holy Mass in the presence of a large number of locals, pilgrims, and tourists.

"On this day, both Orthodox and Catholics come to Our Lady of the Rocks, jointly celebrating the Mother of God, the mother of Christ and all Christians, who unites and connects us. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is especially celebrated here on the island. It is the pearl of the Bay of Kotor, "floating," a unique pinakothek on the Adriatic that sends a beautiful message. Our ancestors had a firm hope that with their efforts on the artificial island after two hundred years, a beautiful church would grow to connect and unite people from all over the world. This church primarily connects, through coexistence, Catholics and Orthodox believers in the Bay of Kotor, and Montenegro," the manager of Our Lady of the Rocks, don Srecko Majic, said to Boka News.

In the morning, bells from numerous churches in the Bay of Kotor announced the feast of the Assumption. It is celebrated with Holy Mass also on the Jesuit Island of Our Lady of Mercy, the Bay of Tivat, and in the Benedictine monastery of Our Lady of Ratac, Bar.

Source: Boka News

August 14, 2020 - Luštica Bay is offering a new attraction intended for all residents, guests, and visitors. From today, they are invited to enjoy a 700 meter-long hiking trail, leading from the village marina to the Bay of Oblatna and the Almara beach.

In addition, a temporary access path has been formed by adaptations in space, with minimal terrain modeling on a rocky surface, and without permanent physical changes.

The trail, integrated into the surroundings, includes several wooden bridges over existing bays. In contrast, a wooden path was made over the steep rocks to preserve the coast's natural ambiance in the Trašte bay.

"We expect that it will be exciting to all visitors because it is a pleasant walking route, from the entrance to the parking lot in the Marina Resort to the Bay of Oblatna and the Almara beach. Rest points have been provided at several places, with wooden benches that offer a very nice view of the sea. This year we decided to be mostly outdoors in the company of nature. Our activities were aimed at enhancing what we offer, so our new facilities include three beaches, a new lighthouse and terraces, and gardens for new shops on the promenade, "said Dragana Bećirović, PR advisor to Luštica Bay.

On the parts of the new path where the terrain is flat, the promenade was constructed by filling with fine white gravel. The route is visually protected from the sea, and the edges are fashioned from natural local stone, reflecting the natural environment's color, so as not to disturb the appearance. The height differences in the level of the path are facilitated by wide steps made of coniferous shapes.

A protective fence is made for each location. Depending on the nature of the terrain, there are wooden slats, natural branches attached to the existing greenery, and wooden poles placed in locations where it was necessary to provide additional protection.

The descent to the two natural beaches along the trail is made possible by wooden stairs that will be removed after the summer - the statement concludes.

August 14, 2020 - NGO Green Life has announced today that it has established an eco-patrol in cooperation with the NGO Green Step. The patrol is part of the project "Ulcinj Coast without Plastic", whose goal is to encourage the public to act and positively influence the reporting process for incorrect waste disposal and fly tipping.

According to the NGO, incorrect waste disposal on the territory of Long Beach and Ada Bojana is a big problem, given the large number of illegal landfills that have appeared there.

"In clearly identifiable uniforms, the representatives of the eco-patrol will visit the areas of Long Beach and Ada Bojana and record information on any newly created landfills, as well as reporting any criminal acts they observe. The reports will be sent to the local police. One such report has already been filed with the police. We want to contribute in our way to ensuring a prompt reaction from the local police when it comes to preventing illegal waste disposal,” Green Life stated.

They add that the work of the eco-patrol will also make it easier in future for members of the public who notice improper waste disposal to report cases to the competent authority.

"The development of a mobile application is also planned, which will enable easy reporting of those who dispose of waste incorrectly," NGO Green Life stated.

The project "Ulcinj Coast without Plastic" will run from June 2020 to September 2021. Its activities are supported by the German Organization for Development Cooperation (GIZ) as part of the project "Integrated Waste Management and Marine Litter Prevention in the Western Balkans - MLP" which is financially supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development BMZ.

HRB

August 11, 2020 - As part of the Open Kotor Squares programme organized by the Municipality of Kotor, vocal group Škuribanda and the klapa ensemble Incanto will perform at Škaljari Square on Wednesday, 12th August, from 9am to 1030am, while a concert by Acoustic Jukebox will take place from 9pm to 10pm on Flour Square.

On Thursday, 13th August, Jelena Mijanović will perform Kotor Notes on Flour Square from 7:30pm to 8:30 pm. On the same day, from 7 to 8 pm, at the church of St. Clara/Anton a concert will be given by the mandolin orchestra Tripo Thomas.

On Friday, 14th August, from 10am to 11am, Petar Bukilica will give a concert on Škaljari Square, and a concert by the group Nitro will be held on the Square of Arms from 9pm to 10pm.

On Saturday, 15th August 15, from 830am to midday on Cinema Square, a "Painting Square" will be organized (for amateur artists and painters), while a concert by the klapa ensemble Maris will take place between 8pm and 9pm on Museum Square.

On Sunday, 16th August, from 730pm to 830pm on Flour Square - Kotor Notes. Performance by Jelena Mijanović.

According to the Municipality of Kotor, all the aforementioned performances will be held in compliance with measures of the Government of Montenegro and the National Coordination Body for Infectious Diseases.

HRB

August 10, 2020 - A conference entitled "Festivals in Times of Crisis", held as part of the KotorArt Don Branko's Music Days, will take place tonight, starting at 8pm, on Cinema Square in Kotor.

The organizers of the festival highlight that directors of several festivals from across Montenegro and the region will speak at the conference, including Ksenija Popović (Bar Chronicle, Bar), Ana Vukotić (FIAT, Podgorica), and Ivan Radojičić (Festival of Street Musicians, Nikšić), as well as Zoran Rakočević (Korifej, Kolašin), and Dora Ruždjak Podloski, Artistic Director of the Dubrovnik Summer Festival.

A representative of the Ministry of Culture, the Head of the Directorate for Cultural and Artistic Creativity, Dragica Milić, as well as the State Secretary of the Ministry for Sustainable Development and Tourism, Damir Davidović, will also speak at the conference. The host and moderator of this conference will be the Director of KotorArt Don Branko's Music Days, pianist Prof. Ratimir Martinović.

"Speakers will present their views on the topic and this year's plans with regard to the epidemiological situation, following which there will be a debate on the position, impact, significance, place and meaning of festivals in times of crisis. The debate will unpack current and future formats, the ways in which festivals communicate with their audience, as well as defining a new, and hopefully better - normal, also in terms of the life of the festival," a statement by KotorArt Don Branko's Music Days reads.

On Tuesday 11th August, at 930pm on Cinema Square, one of the first theatre performances in Montenegro since the beginning of the pandemic is planned, in cooperation with the Dubrovnik Summer Festival.

"An original project entitled 'Mara and Kata' by Saša Božić, Curator of the drama programme within the Dubrovnik festival, is about a duo of gossipmongers who criticize everyone with their specific humour, comic statements, original language and absurd revaluation of everyday wisdom. Nataša Dangubić and Doris Šarić Kukuljica have the audience in stitches, and never fail to make a joke at their own expense," the play’s press release notes.

Dua Bulatović Nikčević to perform tomorrow (Photo: KotorArt)

On Wednesday, 12th August, also at 930pm on Cinema Square, there will be a performance by the famous Montenegrin guitar duo of Srdjan Bulatović and Darko Nikčević. The duo will, in addition to their classic, well-known repertoire, also present songs from their latest album called Peninsula.

All programmes, it is emphasized, will be held in front of a limited audience, respecting the measures of the NKT and the Institute of Public Health. The programmes are also broadcast directly online, through KotorArt's profiles and via Facebook and Youtube.

Source: RTCG

August 8, 2020 - The Office for Project Management of the Municipality of Bar has presented the first tourist map of ancient olive trees in the Jidžarin grove near Stari Bar. The map has been produced for tourists who want to visit and experience the beauty of Bar olive groves.

The Municipality of Bar announced that the map was produced as part of the cross-border cooperation project Cross Border Ol, financed through the Interreg Italy-Albania-Montenegro programme.

The Head of the Project Management Office, Ana Živanović, said that those who visit the Old Town of Bar often have no idea what beauty lies within its immediate vicinity, in the olive grove.

"The basic idea was to promote the olive grove for tourism by presenting it on a map together with well-known cultural locations and other attractions in Bar, and directing visitors from those locations towards the olive route," said Živanović.

She added that she is certain the map will serve as a way for visitors to Bar to get to know the city and its natural resources better, but will also be used by travel agencies as a good starting point for creating new day trips. The route map of ancient olive trees will be a successful tool to publicize Bar as well as to promote the olive route and agro-tourism specifically.

Bar's map of ancient olive trees gives an overview of the location of olive groves, the Old Town, the remains of cultural and historical assets, stone bridges and fountains, the Kajnak spring, the Old Mill and 23 ancient olive trees, as well as providing a broader view of the centre of Bar with faithfully illustrated cultural locations and attractions.

The Municipality announced that the ancient olive trees will be marked in situ with information boards including data on the trees, their estimated age and geographical coordinates.

The route map of ancient olive trees has been distributed to the various stakeholders in the tourism economy and to cultural institutions, i.e. the Tourist Organization, the Cultural Centre, hoteliers and tourist agencies, in order to be further distributed to tourists both this and next year.

"Tourism professionals who wish to provide maps for their guests will be able to do so after the presentation, by contacting the Project Management Office," the statement concluded.

HRB

August 6, 2020 - The education system is being prepared for the regular beginning of the school year, which should be acceptable to both parents and students, the Ministry of Education announced, and the portal www.parents.me reports.

They will communicate with the Institute of Public Health in the coming days to receive confirmation.

The Ministry says that, given the public's expected interest, they must announce their position at the beginning of the school year. They point out that the appearance of coronavirus has clearly shown that it is not acceptable to make long-term plans and promises, which can be changed in a few days, due to objective circumstances.

"At the same time, the epidemiological situation changes day by day, and a serious education system must have a support scenario for such unforeseen situations, which are possible in the coming weeks and months," the Ministry of Education claims.

That is why they will record classes for the first quarter, "exclusively as" Plan B ", and not as an already established substitute for regular classes during August."

"Re-recording video lessons will serve as a temporary basis for the education system, so that a possible deterioration of the epidemiological situation would not find us unprepared. However, as we have already said, this basis will most likely serve only as a support to the education system and will be a useful resource for students and teachers in regular classes," the Ministry explains.

They hope that the prescribed measures will assure the improvement of the epidemiological situation and that they will receive confirmation from the competent health institutions that children, to everyone's satisfaction, can be in school in September.