Two years have passed since, as far as travel is concerned, we were forced to turn to closer localities. Which, on the one hand, is not bad, because it turns out that a lot of people know their immediate surroundings very poorly. I hear from various sources that for many during this "corona era", my posts have been a lifesaver for escaping into nature. That's why I'm continuing the series "Escape somewhere" in which I want to describe some lesser-known places within easy reach.
Veruša is exactly 50 km from Podgorica and is located on the halfway point of the old road that connects Podgorica and Kolašin via Mateševo. During my childhood and youth, the toponym Veruša was associated with a children's resort managed by the Children's Association. Along with the resort in Sutomor, it was a place where children hung out during the winter and summer school holidays. Many people have the best memories from their school days. It was like that until the corona arrived in our lives. It's a great pity that during those 40-odd years of existence, little has changed and improved in the resort on Veruša, while the one in Sutomor is no longer there.
The surroundings of the resort, I believe, have undergone a significant transformation. There used to be a few sporadic, scattered houses, but now there are countless cottages densely studded with them. Veruša, along with Kučka Korita, has become a favorite weekend settlement of Podgorica residents.
But let me start in order. I went to Veruša in May last year and June the year before last. The road is in extremely bad condition and it significantly lowered our rating for this excursion. It was devastated by long-term carelessness, and the construction work on the monument away from the highway. When you go from Podgorica to Kolašin in the town of Bioče, turn right towards Mateševo, across the Morača bridge. Morača had such an incredible turquoise color that I had to stop to take note of it.
After about 7 kilometers, during which the road constantly leads uphill, you reach the village of Klopot. It is a nice village of several houses. Apart from it, the villages of Jablan and Pelev brijeg are located next to the road that leads to Veruša. To me, Jablan is the most beautiful of these three villages. I had trouble remembering his name. I knew that the tree was in the letter "j", but apart from ash and maple, I couldn't think of any other. Fortunately, I have a husband who is currently doing better with his memory. The village of Jablan can be seen from the road leading to Bukumir Lake. Deep in the valley. Pelev brijeg is a village that came into the public spotlight when the story about the highway started. It's been… many years. An inspired journalist from the Public Service instilled hope in the bachelors from Pelevo brije, that happiness will come for them in the form of brides (who were missing) on the highway that passes by their houses. Here is a lot from then. No highway, no bride. I don't know if anyone else remembers that but me. But for me since then, the main association with Pelev hill is poor bachelors for whom time is running out and hope is getting thinner.
As soon as you pass Klopot, you will see the biggest attraction of this tour: the bridge over the Mala Rijeka, which is part of the Belgrade-Bar railway. It is the highest railway bridge in Europe, and the second in the world. Its height is 200 meters. It was built for 4 years. It looks impressive and is perfectly blended into the surroundings. The position of the sun never allowed me to take a photo of this phenomenal bridge that I would be completely satisfied with. Deep down, at times, the Little River could be seen.
If you go to Veruša in the rainy season, about half way, you can find a nice waterfall whose water falls and passes under the stone bridge we pass. We were lucky enough to find him in May.
Next to Pelevo Brije, the old road and the highway come closest. That's why this place was a good vantage point to monitor the progress of the highway. I admit that from the spring of 2019 to the spring of 2020 progress was seen. I don't know if I could say that after these last 10 months.
Directly next to the camp where the Chinese workers who are building the highway are located, next to the signpost for Lopat, on a small hill on the left side of the road, there are several monuments. I overlooked them the first time because I doubt they were all posted in one year. I guess something cleared up so they became visible. It would be a shame if the area around the monument is not arranged better. I feel that an interesting history lesson covering various periods, people and events could be held here.
When we arrived at Veruša, we turned right towards the children's resort. No crowds and noise, but it was picturesque. We remembered the visits to visit the children. I hope that this resort will someday be modernized and will be a place where friends are made and experiences that will become fond memories for many years to come.
Veruša is located at 1216 meters above sea level. No matter what time of the year you come here, you can feel the crisp mountain air. This is probably the reason why many Podgorica residents decided to make Veruša their own oasis to escape from the Podgorica summer. We knew there were plenty of cottages, but not quite this many. When I saw how close the houses were to each other, I did not envy them (except for sleeping in the summer).
During one visit, 15 years ago, with my son and his company, we went to the Veruša river, which flows near the resort. I knew roughly where to go, but we still asked three nice guys for directions. They insisted on being our guides. We went in the direction I thought we should go, but it's always nicer in company. The river Veruša, together with Opasanica, forms the river Tara. The place we went to is popular because it has a nice drive through the forest. In that place, the river is wider and creates a pool and small waterfalls. Only, we weren't the only visitors. This is the main attraction of Veruša.
The previous year, we didn't even stop by the river, but we came up with the idea of making a circle and going to Mokra and Bukumir Lake. It was perhaps the worst idea of our not so few bad ideas during almost two decades of buzzing around our beloved homeland. The road was bad even for an off-road vehicle. With a small car, I doubt that anyone dared to drive through here. Neither would we – never again. But once we started, there was no turning back. When we saw the first cottages in Mokra, the sun warmed us. Only then did I dare to take a look around me (until then, I was constantly looking at the road in the hope of using some mantras to help us overcome the obstacles on it). As soon as we pulled ourselves out in one piece, our spirits improved. On the left side of the road we saw numerous cottages that we didn't even know existed. High above them we saw a waterfall.
When we reached the Bukumir lake and saw it in all its beauty (together with the mountains that surround it, with which it forms a unique whole), when we saw for the first time the periodic lake Dugačko, and the katun between these two lakes, we completely forgot in a bad way.
When my dear godmother Olja, following Jasna's travels, arrived at Bukumir Lake, she sharply criticized me for lying to the people. Namely, the way to the lake was so stressful for her, it was so difficult for her, that she did not register the beauty of the lake and its surroundings at all. Everything is subjective. I am presenting my impressions. I don't expect everyone to have the same. God forbid that Olja went from Veruša to Mokra by car. I guess that would be the end of these travels of mine.
Do not repeat this tour without a good SUV. You would also like Veruša. Let's hope that someone will remember this time too and bring it at least to a decent state.
Finally, instead of flowers, I'm sharing photos of the most beautiful old houses I came across from Mokra to Bukumir Lake.
Bonus video:
