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.
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