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Laying on top of building on top of Kotor hill
It was another spectacular day of sightseeing today — and we earned it. Masayo and I walked up the hundreds of steep steps to the top of the fortifications of Kotor, battling the sometimes-strong winds and getting amazing views of the Bay of Kotor.
My BG was 201 when I woke up, which is fair enough after all the sweet wine I had last night. Breakfast was eggs and ham, plus yogurt and some sesame bread that we had bought yesterday. We also had a grapefruit from Nada’s garden that she had put in a bowl.
#bgnow 201 in the morning in Kotor
Around noon, it was time to start climbing. What effect would the alcohol and/or high carbs of last night have this afternoon? How about if I added strenuous physical exertion to it? Only one way to find out! My BG was 132. Good start.
#bgnow 132 just before starting the day’s hike
First we walked to the central gate of Old Town and walked around a little; the entrance to the steps is in the back and it isn’t a large area. Old Town is really nice, full of the winding alleys and light-colored stone buildings and flooring that we saw in other towns on the Adriatic Sea.
Small church in Kotor Old Town. Look at those walls snaking along the steep hill behind it — our destination!
A church on the hill above Kotor, as seen from town
Finally we got to the steps, and climbed out of Old Town. The old stone steps seemed strong enough, but it was pretty steep going. There were very few other people climbing, and most of the time we felt totally alone. I had a cereal bar to bolster my BG in anticipation of the exercise.
Masayo at the Old Town fortress entrance
Kotor fortress steps. They go on and on like this, zigzagging up the hill.
I went ahead and ate a cereal bar to begin the hike
Masayo walking up the Kotor fortress steps
About halfway up we came upon a church. We had seen it from sea level, and it seemed so far away. Now we were here ourselves, having hiked our way up to it! It seemed abandoned, although I could peek through the locked gate in front and see a fairly recent-looking altar and furniture.
At the church halfway up the hill
Inside the church — looks kind of recently abandoned, doesn’t it?
Top of the church and the Bay of Kotor — one of the most famous photo spots here
The fortress tried to attack me!
We continued on, following the switchbacks and nearing the top. Finally we were there — the uppermost part of St. John’s Fortress, which is a larger complex on the top of the mountain. A Montenegrin flag was flapping fiercely in the wind.
Flag and the Bay of Kotor from the hill fortress
Looking down on the church and the town of Kotor that we had just climbed
“St. John Fortress – High Risk Zone!”
Masayo walking over the scary Kotor fortress entrance walkway
The best part was the view — I had seen this very perspective in photos, and it was hard to get over the fact that I was now standing here taking my own photos of it. Traveling is so much fun. They say the internet “shrinks” the world but I don’t think so. If you don’t actually go to a place yourself, watching videos and seeing photos (and reading blogs!) about it isn’t the same at all. You still have to make the effort.
A dizzying look back down at everything we had just climbed — yow.
This bird was hanging around, and not shy about it.
We hung around a little bit, taking photos and resting, and then it was time to had back down. I checked my BG and was only 75, so I had some Twix and kept walking.
#bgnow 75 after beginning the hike back down the head. Time for Twix.
We took a slightly different route after the church and ended up at the impressive south gate of Old Town, then went to a seafood restaurant in the middle of Old Town we had passed earlier. It is called Cesarica.
South Gate of Kotor Old Town
I ordered shrimp risotto, and it came — several little shrimps and lots of rice. Tricky for insulin, especially factoring the wine, the climbing, and the recent 75 and the Twix. But I was hungry and wanted to eat.
And so I did. After most of the meal was finished I finally took my shot, and I didn’t shy away from the dose I thought I’d need for all this rice.
Taking Humalog in the Kotor seafood restaurant
Some strange trees grow in Kotor…
We went back to the room and took it easy after that. And at 6:30 pm I checked my BG to find I was 101 — perfect management, if I do say so. This trip has really made me focus on my insulin doses and their timing, and I’ve been able to drop some bad habits that made me high so often.
#bgnow 101 after hiking and eating rice — amazing!
We had stopped at a bakery in Old Town after the seafood place, and I ate the cupcake I got there as a small dinner snack. (The late afternoon risotto was the day’s real meal.) And, of course, took some Humalog.
It worked well again: I was 86 at 11 pm. I had a little snack to make sure I wasn’t too low, and headed to sleep — justifiably proud of my blood sugars from today, and quite happy at Masayo and I having made it to the top of the Kotor fortifications!
#bgnow 86 in the evening, what a day for BGs.
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