Monday, March 1, 2010

My Town Monday (Travel Edition): The Birthplace Of Nero Wolfe



I suggest beginning with autobiographical sketches from each of us, and here is mine. I was born in Montenegro and spent my early boyhood there. At the age of sixteen I decided to move around, and in fourteen years I became acquainted with most of Europe, a little of Africa, and much of Asia, in a variety of roles and activities. Coming to this country in nineteen-thirty, not penniless, I bought this house and entered into practice as a private detective. I am a naturalized American citizen.

Nero Wolfe addressing the suspects in "Fourth of July Picnic" (1957)


In the birthplace of the man Archie Goodwin describes as weighing "a seventh of a ton" I came across a clock tower with no clock. I was informed that every Ottoman-ruled town had a clock tower to indicate the Muslim prayer times, and Podgorica's 18th century tower is one of the few remaining structures.

Don't know who he is or represents but I started calling him Slim. The gentleman hung around the radio and television station


A majestic looking Orthodox church in the capital city.


Yes, I still find cemeteries fascinating. And this one has plenty of character to spare.

"In life everything must have an aim, except orchids." I couldn't find any orchids which every Wolfe aficionado knows is the detective's favorite but I did find this colorful tree sprouting a unique flower all its own.


Why did it have to be a black cat in my path? THE MOUNTAIN CAT MURDERS leapt to mind.

Scarlet Johansson looking over my shoulder as I walk the streets of the great detective's birthplace. The song "Return of the Grievous Angel" was running through my head

For more MTM adventures click here.

21 comments:

Chris said...

Love these travelogue-style posts!

The romantic query letter and the happy-ever-after said...

I'm also fascinated by cemeteries, I love the idea of life at rest.
Warm reards and a lovely week to you.

David Barber said...

Yes, I'm liking these travelogues too. Regards, mate.

RReynolds said...

Just caught Hutton's Wolfe. Half ok.

Hope the cat did not cause many issues.

David Cranmer said...

Chris, And yours. You have me hooked on traveling to your neck of the woods.

Simone, My dad gave me the genealogy bug and that road, of course, leads to bone orchards.

David, A few more on the way.

RReynolds, Hutton's Wolfe is the best to date but it just kinda missed the boat didn't it. I still like the performances of the actors though. Top notch.

Leah J. Utas said...

Love the pics. It's great to see other places.

pattinase (abbott) said...

Lovely pictures. Thanks for sharing this special place.

Charles Gramlich said...

Those are just cool. You can feel the history in them.

Barrie said...

I'm really not supposed to be checking out blogs this afternoon, but I couldn't resist this post. Because I LOVE Nero Wolfe! Thank you!

David Cranmer said...

Leah, And most of the time it is fun to be there. This one was in the positive column.

Patti, You bet. MTMs are a lot of fun.

Charles, This country is for the historical minded which suited me fine.

Barrie, Not one person I spoke with (other then a fellow American) knew who Nero Wolfe was. I was bummed.

Oscar Case said...

David, that tree with the red blossom is a "bottle brush" as they call them here in AZ. Don't know the formal name. Great post, and Mr. Wolfe took great care of his orchids.

Alyssa Goodnight said...

Very nice My Town Monday post! Giving us all a little taste of the exotic!

I have an 'award' for you on my blog.

David Cranmer said...

Oscar, Thanks. I just checked Google and sure enough there they are. With a stuffy name of genus Callistemon. But Bottle brush will do nicely.

Alyssa, Thank you thank you.

Don said...

The first shot is breathtaking and appropriate for someone with Wolfe's ego.

Dave King said...

A fascinating post, no least for the view of the cemetery - I, too, find them intriguing and that one seems more so than usual. However, you make it all very enthralling.

David Cranmer said...

Don, A supersized ego for sure. But is he any worse then Holmes? Maybe crankier.

Dave, Such incredible history locked in a graveyard.

Anonymous said...

Slim looks like someone I know.

Paul D Brazill said...

My mate Colin-whose from England but lives in Belgrade and used to live in St Persburg and Warsaw - said that Montenegro was the most extreme place that he's lived.And he's an extreme bloke!

David Cranmer said...

Paul, I'm not sure I would use the word extreme but my enthusiasm for the country definitely rivals your friends.

Nik Morton said...

Fantastic photos, David. Walk in a cemetery and you feel you're communing with the dead, a lost age, past hopes and despairs, people who won't be forgotten as long as those chiselled names aren't weathered into oblivion...

David Cranmer said...

Nik,

Some may consider it morbid but I love the ambiance, history that a graveyard holds.

Glad you enjoyed the post.