Ješovnik: I am bringing the flag home with the message that we must never give up on Montenegro

Many years ago, an adventurous spirit led Nebojša Nešo Ješovnik away from his hometown of Pljevlja and his Montenegro into foreign lands, but he always returned to breathe in the love of his homeland before continuing onward. Today, he will bring the national flag to Cetinje - a flag he carried with love and hope for the eternity of his country, walking for 21 days from Munich, Germany, to Montenegro’s royal capital in honor of the jubilee Independence Day.

- Cetinje is the foundation of Montenegro. That city shaped the history of our country, and today I proudly and lovingly bring the Montenegrin flag home, to the Royal Capital. It went through storms, rain, and snow. At one point the wind tore it away from me and I ran through the forest to catch it, terrified it would be carried off. It endured many hardships. I washed it in streams and rivers along the way. I spoke to it when things became difficult and cried out of love. I knew I was carrying something sacred, something that belongs to all of us. This flag is not just a piece of cloth - within it are woven the lives of our ancestors and our history. I am bringing the flag home with the message that we must never give up on Montenegro - Ješovnik told Portal ETV.

AN UNFORGETTABLE WELCOME IN NIKŠIĆ

We spoke yesterday in Podgorica, where he arrived after 20 days of walking from distant Germany. He entered Montenegro through the Šćepan Polje border crossing two days earlier. The very first thing he did after crossing the border was kiss the Montenegrin soil. Then he drank a coffee and headed toward Plužine, where he spent the night before continuing on to Nikšić.

- The welcome from the people of Nikšić was fantastic, unforgettable. I felt that I had arrived among my own people, among brothers. It was wonderful - says Ješovnik.

The people of Danilovgrad also organized a memorable reception for him yesterday.

As we talked, he had to repeatedly get up from his chair and drink magnesium because of cramps in his legs.

- The distance from Munich to Cetinje is approximately 1,130 kilometers, and I walked at least 80 percent of that route. On a few sections I hitchhiked. That usually happened when I approached a village and only had a few kilometers left, but night was already falling, so I had no choice - he adds.

He decided on this adventure because of the immense love he feels for Montenegro, hoping to awaken some „sleeping“ citizens of the country and help them realize that this is their only homeland.

- I have spent my whole life outside Montenegro. Munich is the 38th or 39th city I’ve lived in. I’ve been there for ten years and will probably remain there. But my love for Montenegro has never disappeared, even though the adventurous spirit we people from Pljevlja have - the desire to discover distant places - led me far away from our homeland - Ješovnik says.

THE HARDEST PART WAS THE FEELING OF LONELINESS

The idea of walking home to Montenegro for this May 21st came suddenly.

- I don’t know where it came from. But I had no doubt that I needed to do it. I took the flag from the closet, walked into the living room, and told my wife: „Tomorrow I’m walking to Cetinje to bring the flag there on May 21st. Home, where it belongs“. She was shocked. She tried to persuade me not to go on foot, worried about my health and afraid something might happen to me. Everyone was surprised, but I set off - Ješovnik recalls.

Their friends, a young Ukrainian married couple, offered to accompany him. He agreed, but they did not last long.

- After 30 or 40 kilometers they gave up and returned to Munich. Through Austria, for almost the entire way, I was accompanied by my friend Sultan from Azerbaijan. About 50 or 60 kilometers before Slovenia, he had to return home to his family - he says.

Only then did he truly feel the weight of the journey. Loneliness was crushing him.

- It was really hard. The rain, the winds, the long nights. But I received kindness from everyone I met, and people constantly wrote to me on social media, called me, and supported me, so I endured - he says.

LET THE WATERS CARRY AWAY ALL EVIL

The words of a friend of his late mother gave him strength.

- On the second or third day after I set out, she called me on WhatsApp and said she had read that I was walking from Munich to Cetinje: „Son, I heard about your intention and do it - bring that flag home. You will choose your own path - the easier road, along the highway, and nothing will happen to you, your legs will survive. You will arrive and bring the flag to Cetinje. But choose, son, to take the harder road. Through mountains, valleys, and across waters“. She kept repeating that I should carry the flag across as many waters as possible: „You must carry it across as many waters as you can before reaching Cetinje - across rivers, bridges, and let the water always flow away on your left side, because with it all negative energy will leave, and you will bring that flag, along with love, peace, and prosperity, to Montenegro“. At first, I did not understand her, but then I remembered my mother’s stories about water carrying away evil and bad energy. So I took the harder path, crossed many bridges and waters, and here we are in Montenegro - the flag and I - says Ješovnik.

Navigation and a walking app guided him toward Montenegro.

- In Austria, a map also helped me. It showed old village roads and shortcuts, so it was not difficult to find my way. Austria has highly developed rural tourism and every village has places to stay - he adds.

He is thrilled by people’s reactions throughout the entire journey.

- In Slovenia, I stopped at a gas station to eat. The manager asked where I was coming from. When I told her I was walking from Munich to Montenegro, she was amazed, and the owner refused to let me pay. I carry beautiful memories that will stay with me for the rest of my life - says Ješovnik.

THROUGH STORMS AND SNOW

He never regretted the journey for a single moment, not even during the hardest days.

- I got blisters on my feet, I had cramps, but I never once thought of giving up. Near Zagreb, a storm and snow caught me, and my navigation showed nothing nearby. Then I came across a small settlement with five or six houses, and in one of them lived a retired couple. They told me I was lucky they happened to be there. I was completely soaked, and everything in my backpack was wet. I spent the night with them. I truly believe I was not alone on this journey. God watched over me and guided me. Even these two people happened to be at their cottage on the very night when I needed luck the most - he says, emphasizing that he would do it all again.

He adds that he was under tremendous stress the entire time because he was „racing against time“.

- I was short on time because I should have started much earlier, at least a month or two sooner. I constantly feared whether I would make it by May 21st. But here I am, I made it. I bring love for my country and a message to all citizens never to give up on Montenegro. She is our mother, our homeland, the most beautiful in the world. Things have not been good in recent years, but she will return to the right path - Ješovnik emphasizes.

THE ONLY UNPLEASANT INCIDENT HAPPENED IN MONTENEGRO

Sadly, the only unpleasant experience Nešo Ješovnik faced during the entire journey happened in his own Montenegro, at the entrance to Nikšić. A group of men insulted and cursed at him.

- As I was walking toward the city, a car stopped with three or four men inside, and they started insulting me, cursing my „Ustaše mother“ and saying similar things. They might even have attacked me if other cars had not been passing by. But the city later gave me an unforgettable welcome - says Ješovnik, who does not want this ugly episode to tarnish his journey or his story of love for his homeland.

He will not walk back to Germany, where his wife awaits him. He will return by plane. His legs are exhausted from the long road.

Twenty years ago, on referendum day, May 21st, 2006, he found himself in Slovenia. There he voted „yes“ for his country. And wherever he may be, Nebojša Ješovnik says that Montenegro will always be his home - the place he will joyfully and lovingly return to.