Local habits in Montenegro

Dojc is the Podgorica name for a long espresso with milk. In a TV Vijesti report, cafe proprietor Zeljko Kontic describes coffee that people take their time drinking. In the same report, writer Balsa Brkovic tells a story about the name's origin in which friends come to chat and other guests then ask for the same coffee.

In that story, ordering the same coffee becomes a shared habit among people who are already gathering to talk. You can therefore understand an invitation for dojc as a suggestion to sit down and talk, without assuming that one cup determines how long you will stay.

The association of rural households in Montenegro invites interested guests to join in with work such as gathering hay, picking fruit and making preserves for winter. Working together can then become a way to socialise. In its description of responsible travel, the association stresses that farm work depends on the weather and that the family must get it done when it is needed.

The Bozovic household near Berane provides a concrete example. Its published calendar lists preparing hay for winter in June and July, from mowing and drying to baling and taking it into storage. From December to March, the same calendar describes demonstrations of knitting woollen socks, hats, gloves and scarves.

When arranging a visit, say whether you would like to watch, learn or help, then ask what is possible during your visit and what the offer includes.

Moba is a gathering to help with a substantial job. The National Tourism Organisation describes neighbours coming to one property to help build a house, mow, make hay or harvest crops. Preparing food and refreshments for those doing the work is also part of such a gathering. Socialising and getting the work done are part of the same event.

The same account says that moba is less common today and takes place occasionally in some villages. You should therefore not expect every rural stay to include it in a regular programme. If your host mentions a moba, ask what the job is and whether you are being invited to take part. A guest joining an agreed tourist activity and neighbours helping one another in a moba have different reasons for taking part, even when the work is similar.

In Perast's Fasinada, those aboard the boats bring stones to the island of Gospa od Skrpjela as part of their ceremonial role. Kotor Municipality describes decorated boats circling the island and unloading the stones along its shore. The procession traditionally takes place on 22 July to mark the day when, according to local legend, an image of the Virgin Mary was found on a rock.

In the National Tourism Organisation's account, the boats are linked together and set off at sunset. The NTO names religious representatives, male heirs of famous sailors, and respected Perast residents among those aboard, while women greet them from the shore.

To watch the procession, check the organiser's announcement for the year of your visit, particularly the gathering point and access to the shore. The description explains who has a ritual role, but does not establish whether a visitor can board a boat.