Getting this Montenegro Trip Off the Ground
So, Montenegro. Yeah, decided to finally go. Heard good things, you know? Pictures look nice. But getting there, that’s always the fun part, isn’t it? It’s never just ‘book a ticket and go’ anymore. More like ‘navigate a maze designed by a committee that never actually travels’. Real pain, honestly.
The Booking Saga
First off, finding the flight. You’d think it’s simple. Nope. So many websites, so many airlines, all promising the best deal. It’s like they’re all shouting at you, flashing banners and pop-ups. I spent a good few evenings, just clicking around, comparing. Prices jumping up and down like a yo-yo for no good reason. It’s a proper circus. Eventually, just picked one that seemed half-decent, connection time not too horrible. You always take a gamble with connections, don’t you? It’s a prayer every time.
And don’t get me started on the add-ons. Seat selection? Pay extra. Baggage? Pay extra. Want to board early? Pay extra. It’s nickel and diming all the way. I just wanted a seat and my bag to arrive with me. Is that too much to ask these days? Feels like it.
Pre-Flight Shenanigans
Packing was the usual chaos. Trying to guess the weather, what I’d actually need. Ended up with too much, like always. My suitcase was practically screaming. Then the trip to the airport. Decided to take a cab, less hassle I thought. Famous last words. Traffic, of course, was a nightmare. Just sat there, watching the meter tick up, thinking, “This better be worth it, every single penny of it.”
The airport itself, well, it’s an airport. A necessary evil, as I always say. Long lines for check-in, even though I checked in online. “Just to drop the bag,” they say with a straight face. Uh-huh. Took forever. Security was the usual strip-tease. Shoes off, belt off, laptop out, liquids in a tiny bag. Feeling like a suspect just for wanting to go on holiday. You stand there, half-dressed, trying to put yourself back together while a hundred other equally stressed people are pushing past. It’s organized madness.
Up in the Air, and the Wait in Between
The flight itself was… a flight. Cramped seats, of course. I’m not exactly a giant, but even I feel like a sardine in a can. My knees were best friends with the seat in front. The food? Let’s just say I wasn’t expecting Michelin stars, and I wasn’t disappointed in my low expectations. Managed to watch a fuzzy movie on a tiny screen, doze off a bit with my neck at a weird angle. The usual drill for cattle class.
My connection was in some massive European hub. You know the type. Endless corridors and confusing signs. Miles of walking between gates, felt like a marathon. And barely enough time to do it. Running like a madman, dodging slow walkers and duty-free shoppers, hoping I wouldn’t miss the next leg. It’s always a gamble, those short layovers. They call it “efficient”. I call it a recipe for a heart attack. I saw so many people just looking lost, staring at departure boards that changed every two seconds. It’s like they design these places to be confusing on purpose, just to test you.
Touching Down in Montenegro
Finally, Montenegro. Landing was pretty scenic, gotta give them that. Mountains meeting the water. Looked good from the air, much better than the inside of that plane. Immigration was surprisingly quick, actually. A small nod, a stamp, and through I went. That was a pleasant surprise after the earlier airport chaos. Almost felt too easy. Picked up my bag – it actually made it! That’s always a win. Stepped out. The air felt different. Cleaner. A bit of relief, a bit of excitement kicking in. The real adventure was about to start, but getting there, man, that was a journey in itself.
So yeah, that’s how I got here. It’s never as smooth or glamorous as the travel brochures make it out to be, is it? It’s more grit than glory. But hey, I made it. Now for the fun part. Hopefully.
