January 23, 2019 - We came to Skaljari. Our tour around the villages of Boka Bay has arrived at one of the most characteristic points when it comes to the typical culture of living through time. Skaljari was not a naval settlement, not even a fishermen village. It was, and on some points still tries to be, just an ordinary village, characteristic for agriculture and families living together and supporting each other in good and bad times. Also, its inhabitants were well-known craftsmanship. 

Today, unfortunately, Skaljari is best known for the criminal group "Skaljarski klan", but this is not one of the topics we will be dealing with in this story. We found ourselves a better company. Our host in Skaljari is Dolores Fabian, president of the NGO Ke Nova, who advocates preserving the local tradition of Kotor and Boka Bay through organising numerous events and programs focusing on the material and immaterial cultural heritage of this region.

Copyright: Dux Radio

 

Judging by the churches in Skaljari, the oldest church of St. Dujam dates from the end of the 12th century, this settlement started to develop even earlier. The name Skaljari comes from Skalja, a local expression for the stone that characterised the Skaljari landscape before the village became the suburban settlement. The church of St Dujam has recently been restored and re-dedicated to the saint, patron of the town of Split, and its additional cultural value, according to Dolores Fabian, lies in the fact that it is the sanctuary dedicated to St. Dujam on the most southerly point at all.

Copyright: Boka News

 

The so-called "Imperial Way", built on the project of Josip Slade from Trogir from 1879 to 1884, passes through the settlement. According to the local legend, the engineer Slade was so enchanted by the beauty of the Montenegrin princess Milena Petrović that he had designed a part of that road in a shape of the beginning letter of her name - large M.  Terrain configuration suggests that this path didn't need sharp curves, which makes this legend closer to the truth.

Skaljari and Kotor in 1929

 

"Times are changing, the way of life changes. New people are coming, the structure of the population changes, which all affect that old, traditional lifestyle loses. However, we are struggling through the manifestations and events that characterise our town to have Skaljari survive as it once was, recognisable above all by the women who worked in the gardens and then sold their vegetables on the Kotor's market and on," says our host, Dolores Fabian.

Skaljarice with one Konavoka at the Skaljarska Pjaca, Old Town of Kotor

 

"You know that one of the squares in Kotor carries the name “Skaljarska Pjaca“ (Skaljari's market). There once the villagers from Skaljari sold their agricultural products. As for every market, there was a characteristic "Susur" - a glance and overwhelming, averting, a lot of "cuddling". " Dolores with members of the organisation, through the various manifestations tries to save the sounds, smells and tastes of old times. In this sense, the most interesting is the tourist event "Kotor's Time Machine" which is held during the summer months by the squares of the Old Town of Kotor. One of the segments of this program is exactly at the square named by Skaljari where young girls perform the sketches prepared by Dolores, taking care that every detail of the young "Skaljarice", their folk costumes, the vegetables they "sell" on their booths, corresponds to what once was.

"The one who knows Skaljari from the story, if not out of life, when he is walking in a village, will not find what we have in our stories. It will be difficult even to notice the most important structures in the village, some house of an important family or a church of St. Luka, celebrated by inhabitants of Skaljari as their forefather. Formerly small dry stone walls that have kept the gardens are now being the supporting walls of some new buildings. So, the look of Skaljari is completely different. We strive to bring the old life of Skaljari and Skaljarice through the scene closer to all those who came to live with us. We want to inspire them to act at least for a moment as true Skaljari," explains Dolores, adding that the activities of NGO Ke Nova are held during the main tourist season as well as in the winter months:

Today it’s easy to advertise a restaurant with all kinds of available marketing tools i.e., social networks, internet platforms, billboards, and more. But I think the most qualitative publicity is when a local tells you where to get a tasty and proper meal at reasonable prices.

In Tivat, depending on your tastes, of course, there are a lot of restaurants offering various national and foreign cuisines.

Therefore, for example, if you are a fan of sushi and Asian cuisine the restaurant “Mitsu” in Porto Montenegro is the right place for you (https://www.facebook.com/mitsurestaurant/ .

Just opposite “Mitsu”, there is the Lebanese restaurant “Byblos” (https://byblos.me/porto-montenegro/) which is very busy in the summer not only because of the food, but it also organizes thematic evenings with attractive belly dancers shows.

Next to “Byblos”, you will find one of the first restaurants opened in Porto Montenegro “Al Posto Giusto” (https://www.portomontenegro.com/en/restaurants-cafes/al-posto-giusto/ ) which offers mostly Italian food such as pizza, pasta, risotto, fish etc. This restaurant is also popular on the weekends when there is always a D.J. or live bands which you can dance to by drinking tasty cocktails.

In Seljanovo, on the seaside, there is the famous restaurant “Big Ben” (http://www.bigbentivat.com/index.html) which used to be a café with only 30 tables when it first opened around 25 years ago and now it has 200, both on the ground and the upper terrace which is open only in the summer.  Here you can eat very tasty food varying from Montenegrin, Italian, Mediterranean dishes and also sweets at very reasonable prices. This restaurant does not have delivery, but you can call them, and they will prepare the food and get it ready for you to pick up at the bar.

“Bevanda” is a recently opened restaurant next to the hotel “La Roche”. Here you can watch the chef doing his magic in preparing pizza which is also visible to the guests and creates a cozy ambience. There are also promotional prices for certain meals depending on the day, so you should follow their Facebook or Instagram page to get updates (https://www.facebook.com/bevandapizzeria/ ). This restaurant is also popular with the locals because it organizes “Karaoke nights” (Thursdays) and “Kafanska noc” (Fridays), but be aware because the times can be altered, and it is difficult to find a free table on these nights.

Restaurant “Volat” (http://volattivat.com/) is located at the beginning of the little marina Kalimanj and with its nice ambiance offers a variety of Mediterranean meals and also cakes. In the summer it offers a great view on the marina from the terrace on the third floor. There is usually live music on Saturdays.

A little bit further going towards the marina, there is the fish restaurant “Mala Barka” (https://www.facebook.com/konobamalabarka/). So, if you are a fish lover, you cannot skip visiting this place in Tivat.

Now, we will present you the restaurants doing food deliveries, which is very practical. Therefore, there are a number of them you can choose from.

Konoba “Bakina Kuhinja” (“Grandmother’s Kitchen) is located in Seljanovo, turning right from the main road on the corner from the “Aroma” market. They can deliver you daily homemade meals at very reasonable prices (4-5 euros). Also, if you need a catering company for any kind of event, they will prepare the perfects canapés, finger food, fruits and alike. More info on Instagram profile

https://instagram.com/konoba.bakina.kuhinja?utm_source=ig_profile_share&igshid=1g9hjluq9r9e

“Bacchus” is also a typical restaurant-konoba which also has daily homemade meals, but also a great offer of fish and barbeque. It is located at the corner near the former bus station in the town’s center (https://www.facebook.com/Konoba-Bacchus-439611812790041/ ).  

Restaurant “Sidro” in Kalimanj is famous for its barbeque specialties which you can easily order and get it delivered to your home (https://www.facebook.com/grillsidro/ )

At the main square Magnolija, there is “Recoleta” (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Recoleta-Tivat/753089671540984 ), which offers great food at convenient prices and also does the delivery.

If you want to order a family or regular size pizza, pasta, sandwiches or alike, you can call “KLM” ( http://www.klmtivat.com/) or “City hall” (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cafe-Bar-City-Hall-Tivat/205499169496550 ), both located in the center of Tivat.

These are most of the restaurants in Tivat. Even though we couldn’t cover them all and in so much detail, we hope to have helped you with an idea of where to eat next while staying in our nice little town.

21 January 2019 - Culture Trip, a global tech startup that inspires people to explore the world’s culture and creativity, has recently posted an article on the list of “Overlooked European Countries Not Enough People Visit” and listed Montenegro as a stunning tourist destination!

Montenegro's sparkling coastline seems to be drawing visitors more than ever since the tiny, picturesque island of Sveti Stefan was turned into a luxury hotel. This glamorous holiday destination appears to have become a hit with tourists from all over the world.

As explained by the Culture Trip journalist India Irving, tourists nowadays search for destinations that offer fewer crowds and less expensive flights. According to her guide, by visiting a country that isn’t as popular as, for example, France or Italy, you get an opportunity to “discover a place you haven’t already seen a million photos of”.

“Of course these destinations will be busy because this is still Europe after all,” Culture Club explains, but the “unpopular” destinations have their unique charms. The article suggests the most pristine beaches, amazing sceneries, majestic islands, dreamy villages, breath-taking castles and places known for hospitality and generosity. The list offers some picturesque locations that you need to plan your trip to ASAP!

Taking into consideration the luxurious resorts, seaside retreats and mountain getaways that make the small country a stunning place for a holiday, India Irving recommends that this year, you skip Croatia and head to Montenegro. “Its old towns will bring you back to another time, and its nightlife will be fun too, without sending you home needing another vacation. The sea is stunning, the people friendly, and the food healthy and delicious!”

Aside from Montenegro, the List of “11 Overlooked European Countries Not Enough People Visit” includes Austria, Cyprus, Faroe Islands, Finland, Luxembourg, Malta, Northern Ireland, Norway, Poland and Romania.

22 January 2019 - On January 22, Ambassador of Great Britain to Montenegro, Her Excellency Ms Alison Camp met with the Mayor of Herceg Novi Stevan Katić and his associates.

The focus of the first official discourse between Katić and Camp were the potentials for the development of Herceg Novi, the vision of local government, current and planned projects, the relationship between local and state authorities, and current investments in the field of tourism.

The Ambassador pointed out that Herceg Novi is a city of significant potentials, which development should be carefully planned. In this regard, the representatives of the Municipality informed Her Excellency about the adoption of the Spatial Plan of the Municipality, as well as about the activities and difficulties in that area.

During the meeting, Ambassador Camp explained that her communication with British tour operators led to the conclusion of what obstacles British citizens who want to visit Herceg Novi have to overcome - crowds at the Montenegrin border with Croatia and registration of residence. Bearing in mind that the majority of tourists from Great Britain arrive at Herceg Novi from the Dubrovnik Airport, Camp and Katić agreed that it is necessary to resolve the issue of summer crowds at the border with Croatia, to which the Embassy will strive to draw attention.

President Katić said that British tourists annually have between 15.000 and 20.000 overnight stays in Herceg Novi and hope that this number will increase in the coming years. During the meeting, he particularly focused on the opening of new luxury hotels and marinas in the territory of Herceg-Novi Municipality. These projects, which positively affect the reputation of Herceg Novi, make the city a more attractive destination for citizens of Great Britain.

President Katić introduced the Ambassador to the rich social and cultural life of Herceg Novi and invited Her Excellency to visit Herceg Novi during February and March and be the guest of the city during the 50th Mimosa Festival.

22 January 2019 - It is in the interest of the citizens of Herceg Novi that the “Dr. Simo Milošević” Institute and the Meljine hospital retain the focus on health tourism and improve their activities, said the President of the municipality, Stevan Katić, at a meeting with British Ambassador Alison Camp.

On January 22, Ambassador of Great Britain to Montenegro, Her Excellency Ms Alison Camp met with the Mayor of Herceg Novi Stevan Katić and his associates.

The focus of the first official discourse between Katić and Camp were the potentials for the development of Herceg Novi, the vision of local government, current and planned projects, the relationship between local and state authorities, and the issue of privatisation of the Institute “Dr. Simo Milošević” in Igalo and Meljine Hospital.

The Ambassador pointed out that Herceg Novi is a city of significant potentials, which development should be carefully planned. In this regard, the representatives of the Municipality informed Her Excellency about the adoption of the Spatial Plan of the Municipality, as well as about the activities and difficulties in that area.

Ambassador Camp expressed her interest in the issue of privatisation of the Institute "Dr. Simo Milosevic" in Igalo and the status of the Meljine hospital, and emphasised that she is following these processes with great care.

Katić stressed that it is in the interest of the citizens of Herceg Novi that these institutions retain their focus on health tourism and improve their activities.

The Institute for physical medicine, rehabilitation and rheumatology “Dr. Simo Milošević” in Igalo, Herceg Novi is the largest and most important multidisciplinary health and recreational centre in Montenegro and in the region, with a majority stake owned by the State of Montenegro. The Institute is a pioneer of the modern physical and preventive medicine, rehabilitation, thalassotherapy and wellness, and it has become one of the leading international centres for rehabilitation of children, adults and seniors. It is located on the attractive coastal region of Montenegro, famous for springs of mineral water and healing mud, warm, crystal clear sea and lush vegetation full of healing herbs.

21 January 2019 - An Unprecedented list of priority infrastructure projects, supplemented by projects in the field of digital infrastructure, was approved at the last session of the Government of Montenegro. Among the priority projects worth hundreds of millions of euros, several are linked to Herceg Novi. As reported by Montenegrin daily newspapers “Dnevne novine”, “the implementation of these projects requires either the completion of planned or project documentation or solving possible property-legal issues”.

The most valuable project is the construction of the coastal “version” of the Adriatic-Ionian highway along the Montenegrin coast. This project will include seven segments, i.e. the development of bypasses in coastal municipalities within the country. The bypass around Herceg Novi, i.e. the section from the border on Debeli brijeg to Bijela, should be 17 kilometres long (8 kilometres of the bypass and 9 kilometres of Herceg Novi-Bijela road). The estimated construction value is 193,2 million EUR. According to the Methodology for the selection and prioritization of infrastructure projects, the project is rated with a score of 2C, which means that the project either has flaws in spatial planning documents or unresolved property-legal issues.

The construction of a bridge over the Bay of Kotor, with viaducts and access roads, was estimated at 67,9 million EUR.

The "Verige" Bridge is planned at the site of Cape St. Nedjelja/Cape Opatovo and is an integral part of the highway along the Montenegrin Coast. The total length of the bridge amounts to 981 metres, of which the span between the main supports is 450 metres. The main bridge structure will be built as a "Cable Stayed System". The length of the access roads to the bridge from both sides amounts to totally 1800 m. A 200 metres long viaduct is planned on the access road towards Tivat. The construction of the "Verige" Bridge will make the road from Tivat to Herceg Novi considerably shorter, improve the traffic conditions and the complete tourist offer of Montenegro.

This project is assessed by Methodology as 1b, which means that it is a project for which the preparation of technical documentation is in progress, which precedes the tender procedure, i.e. a project that lacks certain final consents/permits.

Within the framework of the Waste Management projects, the estimated value of construction of the Sanitary Landfill Duboki do was projected at 7.4 million EUR.

January 22, 2019 - The quality of media programs for children and youth in one country directly shows the quality of life of that country, said Jan-Willem Bult, director of the Center for Children, Youth and Media in the Netherlands, the UNICEF Office in Montenegro stated today. 

In the exciting finale, Buducnost Voli defeated Cedevita and remained in the game for the second place in front of the playoffs of the ABA League.

The guests were leading by eight points in the last quarter, but the final was overtaken by the current champion, who on the wings of Coty Clarke and Norris Cole directed the turning point and triumph of 80:78.

Clarke linked five offensive jumps and five points when the "blue" made a 12:0 series, and Cole, at 66 seconds before the end, scored a three-pointer for the lead of 80:76 and total delirium at Moraca.

Buducnost then ran into the win with five or more points difference but failed, so now it has the same number of triumphs as Cedevita (11), but also a weaker mutual-score between them.

The team from Zagreb ended a series of nine wins in Podgorica.

Earl Clark was the most efficient in Buducnost with 17 points, Cole added 14, Edwin Jackson 11, and ten each by Coty Clarke and Goga Bitadze.

Jacob Pullen was the most efficient for Cedevita (25), while Justin Cobs scored 18.

Text by Vijesti Sport, on January 21st 2019, read more at Vijesti

The draft law on electronic administration seeks to improve the ambience in which public administration will be at the service of citizens and businesses, by which citizens and businesspeople will communicate with public administration at any time and from any place. This was announced at a roundtable organized by the Ministry of Public Administration on the occasion of a public hearing on the Draft Law on Electronic Administration. At the Round Table, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration Dejan Abazovic and Head of the Directorate for Interoperability of Registries and Regulatory Affairs, Bojana Bajić, spoke. 

Representatives of the Ministry of Public Administration in the introductory part of the presentation emphasized that one of the Government's major priorities is digitization and the development of a modern, digital state.

"They pointed out that one of the key reasons for the adoption of a new law is to improve further legal solutions that should overcome certain weaknesses and problems that have emerged in practice," it is said in the statement.

The aim is to further organize the area of e-government, following its real and projected needs, both from the aspect of development and following the requirements of international integration processes. "A new legal solution seeks to improve the ambience in which public administration will be at the service of citizens and businesses in a way that citizens and business entities communicate with public administration at any time and from any place," the statement reads.

As outlined, the new law on electronic administration regulates the use of information-communication technologies in management authorities at all levels, both in the performance of their duties and in communication with citizens, companies, other legal entities and entrepreneurs.

"The Draft Law on Electronic Administration advises the handling and use of the unique information system of the state administration authority, the information and communication network of the state administration, the domain of the state administration network, the unique system for electronic data exchange, the establishment of meta-registers and information systems as well as other resources necessary for the electronic administration," the ministry said.

In addition, electronic communications of the state administration authorities, the manner of use and assignment of licenses, the obligation to publish the catalog of electronic administration services, the way of delivering electronic documents, the system for electronic identification and authentication and the electronic billing system for administrative fees are agreed. 

"Also, this legal solution will create the conditions for citizens, the economy and the state to utilize the new technologies to the fullest extent, to make the jobs faster, more efficient and cheaper, and by implementing this law to increase transparency and trust in the work of public administration," concludes the statement.

Text by MINA News, on January 21st 2019, read more at Vijesti