There was a break in the rain one afternoon so we made the drive up to Gornja Lastva, a small village on hillside of Vrmac. There were about 20 stone houses, a church, and an original olive press in the small village 300 meters above sea level. While there were several ruins, there was also some rehabilitation going on. We passed a group of Masons reconstructing a cistern in keeping with the traditions of the era. When I searched a few articles to find the age of the settlement, it was listed as the XIV or the XVI century depending on the article….
The unexpected highlight was when we chanced upon a gentleman painting an old door at the entrance to a two-story dwelling. He waved us over and offered us a look into the past, in the old stone home which had been in his family for generations. Further hospitality was extended, when he gave us each a post card and then whipped out some glasses and poured us a dram of this homemade Rakia. This was a particularly smooth brew, and it really helped to chase the chill away!
In August the “Festivities of Lastva” occur. More info here; https://www.montenegro.travel/en/objects/gornja-lastva . The goal of the festival is to cherish the culture, traditions, and the cuisine of Boka Kotorska. Visitors can enjoy listening to authentic music from Boka, folk dances, and games.