It can be a dangerous business founding a new settlement, especially when that settlement is Budva, Montenegro and you have a few skeletons in your closet.
Budva is one of the oldest settlements on the Montenegrin coast, a beautiful fortress-like warren of twisting alleyways, steep stone staircases, and red tiled roofs.
According to legend, Budva was established by Kadmo (Cadmus), son of the Phoenician king Agenor, ruler of the Illyrians. Exiled from Thebes, Kadmo and his wife Harmonija set out to find the Enhealeans – the eel people – and arrived in the region on a team of oxen. Their mode of transport – bous in Greek – formed the basis for the name of the new settlement: Budva.
What happened next is a bid of a muddle, with differing legends.
In one a murder committed in Kadmo’s youth finally catches up with him, and Zeus makes him pay for it by turning both Kadmo and Harmonija into blue-spotted snakes.
In another, Kadmo is cursed by the gods while at sea with his wife and turned into a dragon. To keep themselves from drowning, the pair turn into fishes, each holding the other by the tail to stay together forever. Awww. 🙂
Their fellow Budva residents suffered neither fate, and continued building the settlement into a thriving port city with vineyards and olive groves.
Unfortunately Budva also became a target for conquerors that ravaged and impoverished the tiny region. First the Greeks then the Romans followed by the Slavs, French, Venetians and finally the Austro-Hungarians.
Big changes were in store with the arrival of World War I, and I’ll tell you all about that next time. 🙂
nice pictures. I am really looking forward to getting to Montenegro the next time I am in Europe.
I love the bright light in these photos. And the wire structure for the bouganvillea to climb across. Looking forward to hearing more! 🙂
What gorgeous pictures! This is definitely on my “places to visit” list. Luckily it’s not too much of a trek from Spain, so hopefully soon 🙂
Wow – I really don’t know anything about Montenegro. This was fun to read!
The trailing flowers bring a ray of sunshine tothe beginning of my day Krista!
I absolutely love mythology (especially Greek and Roman). This one is new to me! Thanks for sharing the story, and the gorgeous photos. 🙂
Me too, Valerie! It’s endlessly fascinating and crazy. 🙂
I’m so glad, Val! They did the same for me. 🙂
Thank you, Brenna! I didn’t know anything before I went either. I’ve had such fun studying the history since I got home. 🙂
I do hope you get to go soon, Vanessa! I’d love to see your pictures and hear what you think. 🙂
Me too, Nicole! It was SO bright there – gloriously sunny and warm with all that heat reflecting off the stones. 🙂
Thanks, Scott. 🙂 I do hope you get to go! I’m dying to go back and explore more at my leisure. 🙂
Your photos are wonderful. This is a spot I’ve never been and seeing it through your eyes has convinced me it is worth a trip. Have a great day. Blessings…Mary
Already on my list of must visit places, but even more so now I have seen these glorious photos, very reminiscent of Italy 🙂
I’m so glad you like them, Mary. 🙂 They cheered me this morning too! I hope you get to travel here soon. It is WELL worth the trip. 🙂
That’s great, Linda! You’re right – it DOES remind me of Italy in many senses. I can’t wait to see photos from your trip. 🙂
WOW, I love the pictures, they are gorgeous. 🙂 How pretty are those red flowers by the windowsill? Gorgeous. Oh how I wish I could visit such a place. Looks a little like Puerto Rico.