akar123

I consider myself an avid traveler and a total music lover. So when the two came together completely unexpectedly and totally on their own, it officially became one of my favorite moments of all time.

Now I know that not many people have been to Montenegro. I didn't even know where it was until I was practically in the country, but it's one of the most amazing places on earth. I was on a road trip with a few of my friends starting in Germany and working our way all the way down to Albania and then over to Greece. As we were leaving Croatia we had heard that the Rolling Stones were playing somewhere in Montenegro that weekend but didn't really think much of it because we had no intention of straying from the coast and just camping the whole way.

Our destination was a little camp site just north of Budva, on the beach. As we were getting closer and hugging the two lane, mountainous road we noticed a clearing next to the beach where this HUGE construction-like site was in full swing. Still not giving it too much notice we weeded our way though and with broken English, Spanish, Italian, German and Serbian managed to get set up in a fantastic little camp site literally across the street from the beach. We settled in, made friends with our large Serbian neighbors (who had a complete pub set up right outside our tent doors), and bolted for the beach.

And let me tell you, Montenegrian beaches are magical. Tucked into a little bay, surrounded by cascading bluffs as far as you can see, AND SAND!!! A rarity in every country north that we had been. The sun was going down, everything was turning orange and pink and purple. And that's when we saw it. A concert poster. And another. And another. Rolling Stones. Tomorrow night. Just north of Budva.

Oh my god. The Rolling Stones. In Montenegro. On the beach. AT OUR CAMPSITE!!

None of us spoke it outloud. We could not really believe. We quitely crossed the beach to the open air restaurant (ok a little interruption to this story. this restuarant on the beach was maybe my best meal of the entire trip. Granted we had low expectations but every single thing we ate there for three days was incredible. the calamari was tender, the mussels were perfect, the pizza was gooey and crispy at the same time, the pasta was spot on. At one point we decided to try another food spot but we didn't even finish and went straight back to our favorite place). We asked the waitress if this concert talk was true and she confirmed it. Tomorrow night the Rolling Stones were going to be here for a concert.

Once this information fully settled in we looked at each other confused. We looked around at the practically deserted beach. We were at the most beautiful beach in the world, at a cheap campsite with it's own makeshift "pub", eating great food steps away from a concert stage. Where was everyone? In America, the place would have already been over ran with concert goers staking out their claim. If Mick's goofey face wasn't plastered all over the place we would have been convinced it was a Rolling Stones cover band...

So the next day, my friend's birthday no less, we wake up lazily. Wander over the beach, snack at our now regular place, take a dip here and there, nap, watch the helicopter come in for sound check, observe all the very large yachts making their way into out little bay, have some beer, nap a little more... And then the people start to arrive. Flocks of them, herds of them, from all the sourrounding countries. So many languages were flying around. As the sun dropped and we finished off another amazing meal we headed back to our campsite and hung out with our Serbian pub friends (NOTE: "Spirits" is for sipping, not shooting). Finally we all changed into our pajamas, grabbing some big ol' beers and some blankets and headed to the edge of the campsite. Like magic, there was perfect spot with a perfect view of the stage.

To this day, I believe that Reed did something really good in his life, the universe owed him and made payment by giving him this unbelieveable birthday present. Watching a Rolling Stones concert for free in a campsite on the edge of the beach in Montenegro in our pajamas. The next day my karma kicked in. The car's battery was dead. We got it jumped with help from a very nice German couple but the car's stereo was locked. Thanks to VW's security measures we drove into Albania in silence. But I think we all had music playing in our heads the whole way.