Arrival in Albania

Tuesday 26th June – We had an uneventful trip from Erikoussa to the Gulf of Vlore. The highlights included the sunrise over Albania again and a visit from a pod of dolphins!

As we rounded the long peninsular that forms the entrance to the Gulf of Vlore we spotted hundreds of abandoned bunkers littering the hillsides . This is supposed to be a very busy port, but we saw no boats, no one, nothing at all. It was eerily silent.

The Gulf of Vlore appeared empty of boats despite being a huge expanse of water.  Ahead we could see the new oil export terminal and the buildings of Vlore.  We headed for the main harbour to check-in as instructed and after berthing alongside a car ferry, were met by our apponted agent.  Nigel left with him to do the formalities and Mo was in charge of the boat.  As soon as Nigel and the agent had left she was beset by a gang of teenage boys wanting food, money, cigarettes and anything else they could think of.  She engaged them in conversation that consisted mainly of No, and an attempt to enagage about football.  Meanwhile Nigel and the agent were now offsite in an internet cafe copying papers and filling forms.  Returning to the boat we were free to go and off we set to the small Orikum Marina, about 6 miles to the south.

This is a small but friendly Marina with a hairy entrance, narrow and shallow.  Moored up and showered, we entertained three Americans from a neighbouring boat, the only other visitors, for cocktails.  Dinner which we shared with them was in a nearby restaurant which provided excellent food and wine at prices left behind by the rest of Europe 20 years ago.

Wednesday 27th –  We had not planned to sail this day as the forecast was for strong winds.

They were not wrong apart from the strength which the forecasters had underestimated.  We took a taxi for the morning to visit the mountains of Southern Albania driving through the national park.  The views were breathtaking as we climbed from fertile valley through alpine forest and into the clouds and on up, must have been well over 2000ft to a view of Northern Corfu and across to Otranto in Italy.  We also saw a small boat with three Americans in a very uncomfortable looking sea, they were warned!

A road apparently funded by the Italians zig-zagged down the mountainside to the coast where we visited beautiful and little developed sandy beaches.  What a land of opportunity this is!  Returning to the Marina for the afternoon we walked down to see the waves hitting the somewhat inadequate breakwater. (see above)  I would not like to be around when the wind and sea really get going.