“Kosovo 🇽🇰 ~ Leaving Rugova Canyon and Heading for Montenegro 🇲🇪”

• July 22, 2020
• By Pen n Daryl
• 2 Comments

After a very relaxing morning in Boge, we finally packed up and left the mountain cabin, a bit reluctantly. I admit. But, since it’s the same M9 roadway going out, as it was coming in, we got to see another perspective of the stunning Rugova Canyon.

Before we left, this family wanted a photo with the Americans. Daryl was packing the car, so it was just me. This was a very nice Kosovan family that we met at the cabins. They spoke no English, and we do not speak their language, but we smiled a lot and waved at each other across the way. It was all very sweet, and we always like the opportunity to mix with the locals when we can.

Since we were already so close to a border crossing, from Boge, Kosovo into Montenegro, we followed the map on google. It did not go as planned.

This was plan “A.”

We then made a second attempt at another border crossing into Montenegro; with about two hours on the road, and while we left the border check on the Kosovo side, we were not allowed to enter Montenegro, without a current negative COVID19 test. So, this border try; plan “B” did not go as planned, either, though this time we made it to an actual border crossing!

We turned around and now we had to get back into Kosovo; it’s a long mile of neutral zone.
Once back at the Kosovo border, we were asked to get out of the vehicle and step in to the “doctor office;“ a shack with a hole in the side for a window. We got our temperatures taken, answered a few questions, and showed our passports again. Then, we were free to re-enter Kosovo…. I wish Montenegro was on this COVID19 border entry plan. It was easy.

To be more specific about border entry requirements for Montenegro. Here is what we now know. We missed the new regulation by one day! yesterday, we could have gone into Montenegro from Kosovo:

“If have spent the last 15 days in a country on the “yellow list” of countries, you are only permitted to enter Montenegro if they present a negative PCR, ELISA or ECLIA test for SARS-CoV-2 performed within 72 hours before arrival. If you are not displaying symptoms of coronavirus you should not be required to spend time in self-isolation or quarantine, although this decision is at the discretion of sanitary inspectors at the point of entry. As of 22 July the following countries are on this second list: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Israel, Kosovo, and Singapore.”

Even though we have visited Montenegro before, a few years ago, we always said we would go back again, if we ever got the chance, so yes, we were disappointed, since we just love Montenegro!

Since it was going to be dark in awhile, and we did not want to go through Peja town again so soon; it’s a big town, with lots of vehicles and people going every which way, and a bit more than our road-weary minds could handle. Lucky for us, not far from our crossing attempts, we found a little villa for 15 Euros and will serve our basic needs for one night, no problem. Right next door was a restaurant, so we were set.

Tonight, we will “sleep on it,” and come up with a plan “C” in the morning, with fresh minds and rested bodies. Do we stay in Kosovo longer, or do we make a third attempt at Montenegro, after trying to get a test at the hospital? We are up against the possibility of being denied access to Serbia, if we cross from Kosovo, due to previous conflicts between the two. Crossing into Serbia from Montenegro or Bosnia was the plan.

All in all, we drove for about four hours today, and only made it 40 minutes from the mountain cabin we stayed at last night in Boge. It was all very scenic once again, so it did not feel like a wasted day at all.

You might even agree with me, when you see some more cool photos!