While we stayed for a number of days in Saranda, they were always available with helpful info. For boaters wishing to contact:
(http://www.sarandasummertours.com/shipping-agent) or (sarandasts@yahoo.com)
Saranda (aka Sarande)
Many cruisers and in fact many foreigners bypass Albania as a place to visit. Up until 1991, they were a communist country and closed to visitors. But now they are making progress towards the standards of the rest of Europe.
Their currency is the Lekë and is the preferred method of payment (currently $1 Canadian = 83 Lekë). Most, but not everyone, accepts the Euro in Albania. English is taught in schools so communication was almost always understood and people were helpful and friendly.
Saranda was a pleasant port where you can either anchor or Med-moor at the many city piers. The waterfront has an esplanade where, come evening, many would stroll in comfortable temperatures and dilly dally with friends and neighbours.
Many ferries visit Saranda. There is a small fleet of fast hydrofoils shuttling passengers to and from Corfu. When up to speed, the hull is lifted out of the water by the underwater wings and it then zooms along at 32 knots!
Hydrofoil
When we tied up at the pier, we noticed a Canadian flag on a beautifully outfitted and maintained older classic sailboat of over 15 m (50 ft). Right away we introduced ourselves to Kaspar and Trisha and it turned out that their home port was Victoria, actually Brentwood Bay where Jordan grew up, and we had a lot of friends or acquaintances in common.
They have been sailing Starfire, their 60-year old ship, for a couple of decades chalking up well over 100,000 nautical miles (they lost count many years ago) to some of the most intrepid countries. They must have saltwater in their veins!
Starfire
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