Drymades Hotel Vlore

... br>Het is adembenemend, het groen van Corfu en de grijze bergen van Albanië te zien scheiden door het kanaal.




Midden in het kanaal licht nog een plateau dat we op het laatste moment ontwaren en met de motor net kunnen omvaren, we zijn weer bij de les, Het is rond 15.30 uur als we de baai Ay Stefanos aan stuurboord voorbij zien gaan en haasten ons het zeil in te rollen om de ...

Well I finally made it to Sarande! I was suppose to catch the 8am bus to get to Sarande but I didnt set my alarm clock correctly so I actually woke up at 8 rather than being on the bus at 8! I was awoke in the middle of the night by the Candian guy and Kiwi guy carrying the hostel owner into his bed in my room it was a classic, Scott the hostel owner a really nice guy from Newcastle. So anyway back to the bus I was told there was another one at 9:30 so I strolled ...

A busy day today, it's departure day. I spend a lot of time getting my blog up to date and sending it. Then it's time to go to my mums, pack my car up with belongings stored there and have my second bath. As I'm leaving Nikoletas I bump into her mum who looks panic stricken, I'm carrying bags and I think she thought I was leaving without saying goodbye. Not a chance, I've things to do yet! My goodbyes said at mums, the last tickle ...

For some reason I'm up early, feel like I had a skinful, even though I only had a beer and one shot of something fiery and definitely not ouzo. I had the normal first thing coffee with Nikoletas mum and Bou Bou her dog. Great entertainment was had as I tried to teach Bou Bou a new trick, I was putting her dried food on my shoulder and getting her to find it. She got the hang of it very quickly. I leave Nikoleta sleeping and retrace my steps to Arillas and San Stephanos ...

This morning Nikoleta willingly gets up early, especially once I provide a sturdy cup of cooked Greek coffee. It's a special day here, another holiday, I believe it's Epiphany and it is celebrated with blessings, more nice food and lots of services around the island. If I understood it right all the water on the island is blessed by the priests today. Lots of people are out and about in their Sunday best and generally the feel of the island is very ...

... one can also find historical places like The Church of Marmiroi in Orikum, one of the monuments of culture remaining from the anticity. Is one of the oldest churches in the Balkans as old as Orik City. Other places like the Castle of Ali Pasha are points of historical interest. The National Park of Llogora is a very kind place with pine forests and an amazing view at the Ionian Sea. Its highest point is ...

finally got to go up the Ionian Coast of Albania. Not by choice however. Was at the bus station at 5:30am when found out unfortunately the bus to Korca did not exist. Had the choice of going to Elbasan for 5 hours or back up the coast to Tirana for 9 hours. Decided to go up the infamous ...

... again in Vlora for the night, the water was a lot nicer here and the beach only had a small amount of rubbish on it, although it was rocky not sandy. We had been seeing heaps of meat being roasted on a spit since we hit Croatia but had yet to try some so we sampled the local restaurant's selection (actually there was no selection, it was lamb, lamb or lamb!). It was good, but NZ does it better! The next day we had about 120km to cover to ...

... could indicate some money coming into the area from somewhere. And lots of people looking like they should be in a Godfather movie, and the horses head we found in our bed the other morning. but other than that, you'd not have an inkling. Talking of cars, there are many here, and many of them have a 'D' sticker on the back, indicating the country they were stolen... sorry, acquired from. But a couple of British ...

... drove us all over the island.

After returning to the old town, we went once again, to our new favorite restaurant, and had octopus once again. Dennis struck up a great conversation with our waiter.

After dinner, we walked down to the little pastry shop close to our room. We bought pastries, and then walked back to our hotel.

The proprietor was there and awake. He motioned for us to put our things up, and then to ...