I have loved taking ferry rides ever since I was a little girl.
There was something so exciting about driving our car onto a ferry and getting to spend the voyage topside, either sipping hot chocolate indoors on stormy days or clinging to the railing outside with my brothers, not caring if the wind was turning my hair into a tangle of knots.
That love continues unabated to this day, so I was very excited when, on a road trip through Montenegro a few years ago, we found a ferry to take us across the water to Budva instead of having to drive all the way around.
My brother, friends and I waited happily on the pier, soaking up sunshine as we watching boats bobbing in the water and people queuing up for the ferry.
Finally it was time to board and we took our places along the railing, unwilling to miss a single moment of our surprise voyage.
It was a beautiful trip with balmy breezes, the occasional splash of water, and more gorgeous views than our eyes could take in.
We saw towering mountains and pretty little fishing villages, farms clinging to the hillside and opulent villas surrounded by stately Cyprus trees.
There were tower-topped islands and picturesque inlets and clusters of red-tiled buildings around every bend.
All too soon our splendid ride was over and we clambered back aboard our cavernous 9-passenger van, cranking up the air conditioning and the music as we rumbled our way off the ferry, down the road, and into the beautiful seaside city of Budva, Montenegro.
Do you like ferry rides too? What is your favorite one to take and why?
I have been on many ferry rides in my life, some on large pumped up versions between Vancouver and the islands to tiny rope drawn ferries from one side of a river to another. My fvourite ferry
Oh yes, you live close to some fantastic ferry rides, Val! 🙂
Stunning scenery Krista. I don’t mind ferry rides. I have fond memories of riding one of the Sydney ferries when my kids were small. They seemed to enjoy it (although wanted to buy all the snacks on board as well!)
I bet they loved it, @wanderingsheila:disqus 🙂 I always wished I could buy out the snack bar too. 🙂
Does it get more beautiful? Probably not. Last summer a trip to Croatia, left me with scenes very similar to this one. It is a beautiful thing.
I don’t see how, Velva. 🙂 This was not too far from the Croatian border, so no wonder it looked similar! 🙂
I have always loved ferry rides, but I doubt I’ve ever taken such a pretty trip as yours! There is a tiny old barge that will ferry up to 4 cars at a time across a river near my house, and while the view is nothing special, the quaint old boat makes me happy every time I choose to wait in teh ferry line instead of driving over to the bridge down the road.
I love that, Katie!!! 🙂 I would have to do the same thing. Who wants to cross a bridge when you can travel on a teensy ferry? 🙂
Beautiful photos. You’re lucky to travel so often!
Thank you, @6e04e5cb15f9260ba7d2b9c95064a63f:disqus 🙂 I haven’t traveled too much recently, but I do feel very, very lucky for every place I’ve been able to visit. 🙂
Gorgeous photos, as ever!
I do love a good ferry ride and I have not one but three favourites.
First, crossing the Messina Straits is always brilliant fun, even more so if you do it on the train. I love experiencing the sensation of being on a train, and yet on a boat at the same time. Unique, bizarre, and wonderful!
Then there’s the King Harry car Ferry, near Truro in Cornwall. This is a chain ferry which runs across the Fal river, and was one of our favourite trips to take when we were children. We always found it really exciting watching the chains crank into action.
Finally, there’s the passenger ferry that runs across the Fal estuary from St Mawes to Falmouth, again in Cornwall. It’s the best way to get from the Roseland peninsula over to Falmouth, as it cuts a good few hours of driving off the journey by going the direct route, rather than the road which wiggles along the coast, but the real reason I love it because you get out into the sea air and arrive salty and wind-whipped, which makes me feel zingy and calm, both at the same time. The sea, for me, has such a great cathartic influence.
“Zingy and calm” – I love that, @twitter-91303570:disqus 🙂 You’ve described it perfectly. I haven’t been on any of those ferries you mentioned, but maybe I’ll get a chance the next time I’m in Europe. 🙂
There is a certain romance about ferry rides, isn’t there? Lovely pics – Montenegro looks so pretty!
There sure is, @google-76b7f5617f998f38e3daf83409eb82fb:disqus 🙂 Montenegro is absolutely gorgeous. I loved driving through there. 🙂