A few weeks ago my parents and I spent a weekend in Budva, Montenegro for a little r&r. Budva is known mostly as a popular beach resort destination with a busy nightlife, but it's also has a rich history, as it is also one of the oldest settlements on the Adriatic coast. Nearby our hotel was Sveti Stefan (the triangular-shaped island jetting out from the mainland in the second from last photo, above). Sveti Stefan is an exclusive resort island that was once popular among celebrities such as Princess Margaret, Marilyn Monroe, Sophia Loren, Carlo Ponti, Monica Vitti, and Kirk Douglas. Montenegro is one of my all-time favourite places to visit. It's a beautiful country, and the drive along the coast (which includes highlights such as the Bay of Kotor, one of the most beautiful bays in the world) with the expanse of the Adriatic Sea on one side, and the majestic black mountains on the other, is unforgettable.