Croatia to Albania

by | Jul 10, 2022 | Albania, Croatia, Mediterranean, Montenegro | 2 comments

After Rogoznica we needed to start heading south in order to enter Greece by mid-July. Met Pete and Deb in Split in their boat Galene and stayed for a couple days to stock up. There wasn’t much in Split that we needed to revisit so we got going again. Stopped at some familiar places that were memorable and/or easy, Loviste, Sipan and Okuklje where we got some electricity for the air conditioning because we sure need it now. Spent a couple days in each one before getting to Cavtat, where we needed to check out of Croatia, as well as pick up Cathy and Kevin who had been waiting patiently for our arrival.

Checked out of Croatia and made our way back to Montenegro and the Bay of Kotor. Great experience in the bay again. Visiting the old town and making the hike again up to the top except this time we had to pay the 8euros each to get in. They could do a lot better with the state of the World Heritage site by taking those 8euros and picking up the garbage that is lying around.

Had a nice time in the bay watching the cruise ships come in. We were told to be on alert by the pilot boat for the ships in case we needed to move, but all was good.

Headed down to Bar so that we could check out of Montenegro. Got a spot along side the dock with water and electricity. Air conditioner ON! Some evenings out and a cruise around Bar looking to fill up the gas bottle. No luck! But there was lots of bell ringing after the game of Wizard for the winner!


Celebrated Jacqui’s birthday in Bar with a night out with everyone. All 8 of us!

After getting filled up with diesel we went to anchor for a couple of nights before moving over to the customs dock to check out early. Unfortunately early is not how they operate here. Had to wait over an hour for the process to finish. Finally out of there and made the 50 NM trip down to Durres in Albania.

This is what happens during a 50 NM trip down the coast.

The check in process in Albania was handled by an agent at the “marina”. The marina was in the most industrial looking section of Durres beside the ferry terminal. We managed 2 nights in the commercial port watching ferries to italy tag team arrival and departures.

We had access to the showers and toilets but they were pretty run down. You know how a toilet seat has the rubber cushion on the underside so it doesn’t sit flat on the top of the bowl, well imagine the rubber stoppers have like a screw that holds them in place and imagine that screw has worked it’s way to the topside of the seat where you sit…. just imagine. They could have spent a couple of dollars on new ones but the fact there is absolutely nothing around there in the form of shops or restaurants they try to make the stop as pleasant as possible.

The nice thing about the marina is that we got to meet this guy. Olen Cesari.

We had been asking the guys at the marina where we could get our gas bottle filled and without hesitation he offered to go into the city and get our gas bottle refilled and …. to get us some cheap beer. Great guy and apparently a great violinist.

“Olen Cesari is considered one of the greatest violinists in the world. An eclectic and virtuoso composer of the violin, he is an extraordinary artist, equipped with the so-called “absolute listening” that allows him to enter the notes that have not been heard before, without being read first. Born in Albania, Durres and an Italian citizenship, he is considered “the miracle child”: “

Check out his website: http://www.olencesari.com/

So we headed out of Durres and made our way down the coast another 50 NM and anchored quite late at the island of Sazan. Got to put the sails up and with the beam wind and a beam sea it was not the most pleasant, but we all survived (almost, with a honker onboard ha!) We were told that the military may come by and move us on but we never saw them. The only reason that we were later leaving Durres is because checkout took longer. Pete and Deb had to fly back to England so they made arrangements with Mike and Helen to take their boat, Galene down to Sarande which meant crew lists had to be changed, which took awhile.

Moving on from Sazan we got to Porto Palermo. This being our last stop before we get to Sarande in order to check out of Albania and enter Greece around the 15th of July.

Porto Palermo seems to be a big part of the Albanian Riviera. It has the Castle that Ali Pasha built and was used as a prison in the 1800’s. So here we sit waiting out the weather and timing it so that we don’t spend any time in Sarande because apparently it will not be the best, but a great spot to ride out the strong northerlies gusting down alongside a concrete dock that even tied up has caused some sleepless nights but what can you do, better than being on anchor watch all night ?

In the meantime who shows up but Olen the violinist. He will be playing at the castle on the 16th and unfortunately we will miss is it but what a venue that would be to hear him play.. unless plans change.

I did a little interactive map of where we have been since last post.

2 Comments

  1. Jacek

    Love that part of the world. Great food, great vino and SUNSHINE which left Vancouver many months ago and for some forsaken reason never came back.

    Reply
  2. Valerie Chartrand

    Great pictures Noël & stories. Say hi to Jacqui. I am off to a solo cycle, hike, walk trip to Ireland. I also rented a car.
    Cheers,

    Valerie

    Reply

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *