I have been sorting the boat so that it can be left under gardianage. not an easy job with so many Italians paying for berths to be reserved, but I did manage to sneak in to a prime spot thanks to a lovely Swiss couple telling me when they were leaving and then waited for me to get into position to nab the spot. Worse than city car parks!!!
Wednesday, 31 July 2013
Snippets
Budva - Passport control is only available until 10pm. but we needed to leave at 5am, dilemma! but the marine receptionist arranged everything, saying to me "I will learn you how to deal with port police. Tell them that you are leaving at 10pm, then no problem, just leave in the morning when you like, but before they are back on duty"
Most expensive laundry, €60 for 12kgs, but incredibly clean, dry and ironed. Now we have spare clean sheets you must come and join us.
The Borra isn't discussed much, but it can be very nasty with 70kts winds. A professionally skippered catamaran came in next to us, with some damage to the starboard side and stern. They said that they were being pushed into a quay by the Borra, They had to borrow fenders from the port, through the night they burst 20 fenders. The mooring fee at Budva of €55 per night seems good value now, especially as the marina were late with the laundry so gave us another night free.
Sarande - Our agent's assistant Julia, asked if we needed anything, and as fuel is said to be available in the port, we asked for 70ltrs to be delivered in the morning. That evening Agim (our agent) arrived at the quay with 48 ltrs of diesel in two cans, telling me that it was easier in the evening, and that the only way to get fuel in Sarande is from the gas station in town, how bizarre!
Corfu - We were anchored in the bay under the byzantine fort, an amazingly beautiful place. We had heard some PA testing in the afternoon and though little of it, but later we had a great evening of music.
Desperate for a good internet link we decided to get mobile wifi. Not so easy, to get a monthly contract you have to have a Greek tax number. We were told that it is like a social security number, which of cause it isn't, you have to do a tax return each year. So it was very lucky that we couldn't do it, something about needing an MP to approve it. We later met a lovely Swiss couple who said that they were told the same but met a friendly advocate at the municipal offices, who helped them, so they do have a mobile wifi contract, but now have to fill in a tax return for the Greeks each year!
Downside - Mossy bites
Upside - Tuna jumping next to the boat
Sivota - Italian being asked something in English replied "Please speak slowly, I'm not from Nottingham!"
The only place in the Adriatic where we can buy Marmite
After spraying the port locker with Oust for the last week, we finally found the bag off prawn shells that had dropped out of sight!
Budva - Passport control is only available until 10pm. but we needed to leave at 5am, dilemma! but the marine receptionist arranged everything, saying to me "I will learn you how to deal with port police. Tell them that you are leaving at 10pm, then no problem, just leave in the morning when you like, but before they are back on duty"
Most expensive laundry, €60 for 12kgs, but incredibly clean, dry and ironed. Now we have spare clean sheets you must come and join us.
The Borra isn't discussed much, but it can be very nasty with 70kts winds. A professionally skippered catamaran came in next to us, with some damage to the starboard side and stern. They said that they were being pushed into a quay by the Borra, They had to borrow fenders from the port, through the night they burst 20 fenders. The mooring fee at Budva of €55 per night seems good value now, especially as the marina were late with the laundry so gave us another night free.
Sarande - Our agent's assistant Julia, asked if we needed anything, and as fuel is said to be available in the port, we asked for 70ltrs to be delivered in the morning. That evening Agim (our agent) arrived at the quay with 48 ltrs of diesel in two cans, telling me that it was easier in the evening, and that the only way to get fuel in Sarande is from the gas station in town, how bizarre!
Corfu - We were anchored in the bay under the byzantine fort, an amazingly beautiful place. We had heard some PA testing in the afternoon and though little of it, but later we had a great evening of music.
Desperate for a good internet link we decided to get mobile wifi. Not so easy, to get a monthly contract you have to have a Greek tax number. We were told that it is like a social security number, which of cause it isn't, you have to do a tax return each year. So it was very lucky that we couldn't do it, something about needing an MP to approve it. We later met a lovely Swiss couple who said that they were told the same but met a friendly advocate at the municipal offices, who helped them, so they do have a mobile wifi contract, but now have to fill in a tax return for the Greeks each year!
Downside - Mossy bites
Upside - Tuna jumping next to the boat
Sivota - Italian being asked something in English replied "Please speak slowly, I'm not from Nottingham!"
The only place in the Adriatic where we can buy Marmite
After spraying the port locker with Oust for the last week, we finally found the bag off prawn shells that had dropped out of sight!
Wednesday, 24 July 2013
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| Sarandes - our last stop in south Albania. Lovely evening walk around bay - lots of stalls - mainly beads and ice cream! |
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| Heading south - Corfu in the distance |
Whoops - that's back to wash day in Polace
Moonrise over Sarandes in Albania
Wow! fresh prawns straight from the fishing boat into the pan with wine and garlic - wonderful!
You don't get them fresher than this - was half a kilo enough?
Ah? sideways view of sails out?
Entrance to Ali Pasha's castle - obviously the ticket man waits till he sees people walk up the hill then comes to unlock the gates.
I think I'm lost! A real maze of tunnels in the castle
View from the top of the castle into Palermos bay and the wedge shaped island of Nickola
Albanian sunrise leaving Orikum
Interesting way to create shade in the centre of Durres
In the commercial port of Durres before we had to move to allow a freighter in.
Feeling very small next to these massive cranes
The port of Durres
View over Budva in Montenegro
Tower in Korcula old town - birthplace of Marco Polo
Seaside stop for ice cream on cycle to Lumbarda on island of Korcula
Fabulous bourganvilia
Busy bay in Uvala Luka - managed to get two nights for 180 kuna plus a cold beer instead of 300 kuna - good deal!! Good job we had beer left in fridge!
Breakfast in Polace bay
It's that washday again!!
Cycling in Zaton near Dubrovnik
Oh dear it has been ages since we have had chance to update blog!!
We are now back in Corfu in the bay where we started back on June 15th! We have had a great trip back from Croatia. Our last post was in Korcula which was the furthest north we got before heading back. We went from Uvala Luka just outside the old town of Korcula, round the coast to Rascisce bay - very quiet and had chance to take our bikes out. In fact on the second day we somehow ended up back in Korcula town, a very long cycle ride up a big hill, only to have a very fast cycle down the other side into Korcula, bikes made it without anything falling off, whoopii!!!. We went round the museum, Korcula is where Marco Polo came from but the museum dedicated to him looked a bit Disney like - puts you off when the person selling rather expensive tickets is all dressed up in fancy dress.
From there is was back to Okukljet on the island of Mljet where the restaurant owner recognised us and said that, by sheer coincidence, the Scottish couple we met there the previous week had also moored there. There followed a great evening as they gathered 15 people from neighbouring boats onto their's. They were able to give us lots of advise about going to Albania and they, together with Mark from the boat next to us, persuaded us that we really should stop off on the way back to Greece. Mark even gave us an Albanian phone card and some left over leke - as he said enough to buy a couple of pizzas!
From Okukljet we went back to Cavtat to sign out of Croatia ready to leave the next morning. Nothing, however, is that simple in Croatia and we had to stay overnight and go to the harbourmaster's office at 8 in the morning. Cavtat to Budva to check into Montenegro - obviously the party capital! Lovely old town though - but did come across an Irish pub selling Guiness!!
Budva to Durres in Albania where the wonderful Llambi Papa acted as our agent, sorted the paperwork for us and found us somewhere to berth in the commercial port - there are no facilities for yachts. An interesting stop between a large tanker unloading grain into massive hoppers by crane - very dusty, and another freighter unloading rolls of sheet metal! Had a slightly worrying time when Dave left his phone at a small mobile service shop to have a new screen. We were told it would be done by 5pm but when we returned to pick it up the shop was locked up and no one there!! They did return at 6 though but couldn't fix the phone.
Next stop was the marina outside Vlores - a 2 hour trip into the bay then on to Palermos - a quiet bay where we went round Ali Pasha's castle. Highlight was buying prawns straight off the fishing boat that came in next to us. Straight into the pan with garlic and wine - wonderful!
Went into Sarandes further south - very popular seaside place - more people here than we had seen in the rest of Albania! Checked out of Albania and into Corfu to check into Greece - not easy - an hour and a half and several trips between customs, port authorities and port police. Apparently we couldn't do what we had done with the cruising licence before we left but as the boss pointed out - it had been done. It seems rules have changed in the month since we left! Finally we have got our licence!
Now at anchor in a glorious bay just outside Corfu town - it is good to be back in the Ionian but we have really enjoyed our trip.
We are now back in Corfu in the bay where we started back on June 15th! We have had a great trip back from Croatia. Our last post was in Korcula which was the furthest north we got before heading back. We went from Uvala Luka just outside the old town of Korcula, round the coast to Rascisce bay - very quiet and had chance to take our bikes out. In fact on the second day we somehow ended up back in Korcula town, a very long cycle ride up a big hill, only to have a very fast cycle down the other side into Korcula, bikes made it without anything falling off, whoopii!!!. We went round the museum, Korcula is where Marco Polo came from but the museum dedicated to him looked a bit Disney like - puts you off when the person selling rather expensive tickets is all dressed up in fancy dress.
From there is was back to Okukljet on the island of Mljet where the restaurant owner recognised us and said that, by sheer coincidence, the Scottish couple we met there the previous week had also moored there. There followed a great evening as they gathered 15 people from neighbouring boats onto their's. They were able to give us lots of advise about going to Albania and they, together with Mark from the boat next to us, persuaded us that we really should stop off on the way back to Greece. Mark even gave us an Albanian phone card and some left over leke - as he said enough to buy a couple of pizzas!
From Okukljet we went back to Cavtat to sign out of Croatia ready to leave the next morning. Nothing, however, is that simple in Croatia and we had to stay overnight and go to the harbourmaster's office at 8 in the morning. Cavtat to Budva to check into Montenegro - obviously the party capital! Lovely old town though - but did come across an Irish pub selling Guiness!!
Budva to Durres in Albania where the wonderful Llambi Papa acted as our agent, sorted the paperwork for us and found us somewhere to berth in the commercial port - there are no facilities for yachts. An interesting stop between a large tanker unloading grain into massive hoppers by crane - very dusty, and another freighter unloading rolls of sheet metal! Had a slightly worrying time when Dave left his phone at a small mobile service shop to have a new screen. We were told it would be done by 5pm but when we returned to pick it up the shop was locked up and no one there!! They did return at 6 though but couldn't fix the phone.
Next stop was the marina outside Vlores - a 2 hour trip into the bay then on to Palermos - a quiet bay where we went round Ali Pasha's castle. Highlight was buying prawns straight off the fishing boat that came in next to us. Straight into the pan with garlic and wine - wonderful!
Went into Sarandes further south - very popular seaside place - more people here than we had seen in the rest of Albania! Checked out of Albania and into Corfu to check into Greece - not easy - an hour and a half and several trips between customs, port authorities and port police. Apparently we couldn't do what we had done with the cruising licence before we left but as the boss pointed out - it had been done. It seems rules have changed in the month since we left! Finally we have got our licence!
Now at anchor in a glorious bay just outside Corfu town - it is good to be back in the Ionian but we have really enjoyed our trip.
Wednesday, 10 July 2013
We have got to Korcula, an amazing place, beautiful, sunny and warm, but still expensive. To anchor in the bay 150Kn per night, but managed to do a deal with the harbour master, told him it was 180Kn for 2 nights in our pilot book! He agreed on 180Kn + cold beer, first good deal in Croatia!!!! Wonderful anchorage, but by the time the sun had set, the bay was full. Never been anywhere like it, the boats were so close that many had to use fenders.
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| Narrow streets of Korcula old town |
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| Market place Korcula town |
Busy Anchorage Uvala Luka 1/2 mile from Kocula town
Wash day Polace on Mljet
Polace peaceful corner
Friday, 5 July 2013
Zaton Bay
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| Dave hard at work updating the blog, as well as dealing with emails etc. Note the change of image!! No longer the old sea dog with bushy beard - now suave and sophisticated!! |
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| Anchored in Zaton bay north of Dubrovnik. Nicely settled with good holding, went out on bikes, came back and cooked dinner, started on blog and at 9.00 a chap comes along to say he will be fishing in our spot at 5.00am tomorrow so we must move. Great! |
Zaton bay - think the camera needs a wash - very misty pictures.
The bikes are out again!!!
Thursday, 4 July 2013
Dubrovnik marina
Ann with tea watching the boat swing 180 degrees in 25 knot gusts.
Annie watching the wind with tea |
Wednesday, 3 July 2013
Kotor & Cavtat
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| The view back to Kotor from the top of the town wall that meanders up the hillside behind the town |
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| Sailing back to Cavtat after a great week exploring islands |
Mljet
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| Local residents in Gaios on the island of Paxos on the way to Corfu |
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| John and Ros join us for an early morning start from Corfu heading north to Montenegro - 33 hours non stop motoring/sailing |
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| In the Gulf of Kotor in Montenegro - beautiful scenery surrounded by huge mountains. |
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| Kotor from part way up the town wall - a very long walk but worth it for the view from the top - this is only the first stage! |
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| Taking down the flag of Montenegro .......... |
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| ........and raising the flag of Croatia |
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| Dubrovnik cathedral |
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| Main street in the old town of Dubrovnik |
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| A maze of small streets around the old town of Dubrovnik |
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| Spotted two families of dolphins (they are the black blobs you can see!) when we sailed with Ian and Cheryl from Lopud island up to Mljet island |
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| A wonderful bike ride round the national park on the island of Mljet - never has an ice cream tasted so good as the one at the end of the ride! Fabulous day though - had picnic lunch on the headland you can see in the background. |
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