Dear readers, the following question came to our studio:

“Dear blog authors, please tell me on the site (or write to me briefly) what are the shortcomings in Montenegro (whether subjective or objective). I will be very grateful to you)”.

After a short delay in thinking about this rather global issue, I nevertheless decided to accept the challenge and try to at least partially illuminate the topic. pros and cons of living in Montenegro (perhaps it would be nice to write a whole series of posts on this topic).

So, well, firstly, how many people - so many opinions, and what seems to be a plus for one is a huge minus for another and vice versa. I will start with what I personally lack in Montenegro - an emigrant from Siberia, and then I will mention some of the complaints of others that I know.

1. Shops and a rich selection of almost any goodsThis is probably the main drawback of – for me, at least for now. Sometimes you can't find seemingly mundane items like normal thread or satin ribbons. That doesn't mean they're completely unavailable here, but they're probably not available in Kotor, and even if they are, these shops are quite difficult to find; you just need to know where to find them. In Russia, you can easily buy any – product in any city; there are ads everywhere, so it's all clear. For example, in Kotor, I was looking for common seeds (parsley, basil, lettuce) in the fall, and I couldn't find a single – store. As it turns out, there wasn't a single – store that sold seeds! A Russian friend helped me out by recommending a – shop. If it weren't for her, I would never have noticed it, even though I often drive by! No sign... and the owner complains about few customers 🙂 Most locals have no shortage of more powerful computers and a few other goods... they're not used to all these gadgets, so many former Russians actively use online stores. And yet, when a friend flies to Montenegro from Russia –, there are always a couple of suggestions for what to bring 🙂

I thought and thought, what else am I missing ... and never came up with 🙂 From what I heard from others ...

1. "bored, nothing happens, nowhere to go" Many people leave Montenegro for reasons like these. These are people who miss the big city with its entertainment and dynamic lifestyle. Those who love Montenegro and stay are those who, on the contrary, escape the hustle and bustle of the city, who enjoy the views of Boka Kotorska Bay with a cup of coffee, who don't want to rush, who love nature and history. I'm not a fan of discos and parties, so for me, Montenegro is ideal (there really aren't any decent discos in Montenegro) for any free minute, hiking in the mountains with a picnic and a camera, to the sea, to some beautiful city or beautiful place. There are plenty of such options in Montenegro. If you're not a fan of nature and active recreation, you'll probably be bored in Montenegro. For me, a stroll along the embankment, along a quiet bay, or along the beach accompanied by the sound of the surf is many times better than along the most beautiful and crowded highway in the Russian capital. Yes, Montenegro doesn't have a ballet company... (a friend recently mentioned this shortcoming in a personal conversation), but how many Russian cities can boast that? And even if your city has a ballet company, how often do you go? It's nice to have the freedom to go to a production of "Uncle Vanya" whenever I want, but how often do I actually go to the theater? And another surprising detail: a modern movie theater (like in any Russian city, like Kinomax) in Montenegro is only found in Podgorica. It's not on another planet, but it takes 1.5-2 hours to get there from the coast –, so I've only been to the cinema once in 2 years 🙂 And to be honest, I don't have time to watch movies at all 🙂 Montenegro has its own vibrant life, and you can find almost any film on the Internet –, so there won't be a cultural vacuum.

2. Education and healthcare in MontenegroMany people criticize it here, but they find their own solutions without fleeing the country. Education, they say, is poor, heavily dependent on the school and even the teacher, but some Russian families are switching to homeschooling or are actively involved in their children's education. Again, many opportunities open up "through advice and guidance." As for healthcare, it's relatively "normal," but it's obviously best not to treat a serious illness in Montenegro...

Something like this for today, to be continued 🙂 I hope that it was useful and informative.

P.S. Life in Montenegro in winter is a whole other story. Tourists leave, beaches empty, and many tourist-oriented activities come to a standstill. But even here, everyone sees Montenegro in winter for themselves. Some see abandoned beaches and deserted old towns, while others see fun and a plethora of leisure options available only to "homegrown folk," as they say here. I offer a photo collection on this topic.

Snow fun in the mountains of Montenegro
Snow fun in the mountains of Montenegro
Golden autumn in Cetinje – now the road to the temple is uncrowded with tourists and is yours alone!
Golden Autumn on Cetinje – now the road to the temple is not overcrowded with tourists and is exclusively yours!
In winter, Montenegro hosts many folk festivals celebrating the harvest of various crops. Pictured is a scene from the Wine and Bleak (a small fish) Festival, which takes place annually in Virpazar on Lake Skadar.
In winter, Montenegro hosts many folk festivals dedicated to the harvest of various crops. This photo shows a scene from the Wine and Bleak (a type of fish) festival, which is held annually in Virpazar on Lake Skadar.
Children play basketball near the walls of the old town in Ulcinj – tourists don't let them play in the summer :-)
Children play basketball near the walls of the old town in Ulcinj – in the summer, because tourists don't let them play :)
In winter, the beaches are empty and are a paradise for romantic natures and amateur photographers like us. In the photo, the little-known Valdanos beach, Ulcinj Riviera
In winter, the beaches are empty and are a paradise for romantic natures and amateur photographers like us. In the photo, the little-known Valdanos beach, Ulcinj Riviera
The deserted streets of the old town of Ulcinj – finally, you can walk around here in peace and quiet :-)
The deserted streets of the old town of Ulcinj –, you can finally walk here in peace and quiet – 🙂

To be continued: "Cons of living in Montenegro, part 2“".