My heart is full of stories from Budva
Gratitude and contentment
When was the last time you felt grateful or content? Was it today? Yesterday? A month ago? Or you never reflect on these things? How do you keep your memories alive? How does the memory that lives in your head and runs over and over again looks like?
We decided very spontaneously, as usual, to spend a few days in Montenegro. Even though that meant a 10 hours drive from Timișoara to Budva, to be more specific the whole night, we said yes to the challenge. We left quite drained and energy-less, especially when we checked the weather at the border and it showed 90% chances of rain for the next 3 days (never trust the weather). We looked at each other, we asked ourselves if we want to go back, and both answers were “no way, we go directly to the beach”! And that was the best decision. Keep reading for the whole story.
We arrived the next day, after driving the whole night through Serbia. We were so tired, but there is no exhaustion that cannot be washed away by the waves of the sea. So, we had our breakfast and a good coffee by the seaside and we went directly on the beach for the next few hours. I don’t remember being inspired by many places the way Budva inspired me this time. There is just this unmistakable charm of a city by the sea, and Budva is definitely checking all the boxes.
I just love the specific vibe of a seaside city. You can read on people’s faces relaxation and calmness. They are just walking around with their bathing suits hardly covered, the girls are much more natural, not covered with too much make-up, just proudly wearing their red cheeks kissed by the sun, juice fruits can be found at every corner of the streets, the wind is blowing through the hair curled by the salty water, and the late night walks that I love so much, knowing that you will not be bothered by the alarm that never rings early in the morning.
The smell of seafood covering the streets, the sound of the waves when they break in the shore, the seagulls exploring the sky and waiting for the mercy of the tourists, every aspect of a city like this is so picturesque and so summerish and relaxing. Narrow streets crowded with people thirsty for new experiences and a good cocktail. You are walking, soaking in all the above, enjoying the evening air which is colder than in the afternoon, but still warm and several cars are passing by with their music way too loud than it’s acceptable, but nobody is bothered by this anyway. It’s just a city by the seaside!
And then there is the romantic side of it. The golden hour on the beach, when you fall asleep on your towel and wake up when the sun almost melts in the sea. Your loved one is taking his last bath in the salty sea, the sand is getting colder minute by minute, people are starting to pack one by one, craving for dinner, and making you more and more space to enjoy the scenery. When he comes out of the water with a big satisfied smile, asking if you slept well because you were off for a while and you seemed to be taking a very restful sleep, you just smile back, reflecting on the mountain of gratitude you feel for these moments that makes your life so amazingly beautiful!
Oh and this trip taught me something new: never be afraid of the warning “90% chances of showers during the day” because nothing is more beautiful and refreshing than a quick rain at the beach! Just imagine a cloudy morning, when you are walking towards the beach slowly, enjoying every moment. Everybody around you is rushing, but you seem to kind of slow down time, almost stopping it. The rain makes this peaceful sound every time it hits the umbrella. The waves are angrier, the sky is complimented by beautiful clouds in all shapes and colors, and the rain drops falling in the sea are just so special and rare to catch. You choose the closest table to the sea, order a double espresso and enjoy the cocktail made of the smell of rain and salty wind.
Caught in the whirlwind of every day, it’s so easy to get lost. You just have to check all the boxes, task by task, hour by hour. I wish I could just stop, once in a while, and feel what I felt back on the beach: contentment. I’m working hard on this, trying to remember that being grateful is what makes life beautiful.
We might not catch every day a golden our on the beach. This is a very idealistic scenario. But we still meet a good friend to enjoy a coffee together, we still have a dinner with our loved ones, we are still able to call our families once in a while, we do have plenty of reasons to just stop, smile, and appreciate!
I want too keep these memories as alive as possible, for as long as I can, because moments like this inspire me the most. They just make me forget about yesterday and about tomorrow, and I finally take the time to be happy with everything I have and I get the chance to experience!
Thank you, Budva! You were so good to us!
