s/y TROLDAND - From the Baltic to the Med

2015 (year 6)

(text and pictures from 2010), (text and pictures from 2011), (winter in Seville), (text and pictures from 2012), (text and pictures from 2013), (text and pictures from 2014), (winter in Barcelona), (text and pictures from 2016), (winter in Palermo) (text and from pictures 2017), (text og billeder fra 2018)

From Messolonghi to Albania, Montenegro, Croatia and Puglia

*A short account of 2015:* A long and eventfull spring in Messolonghi (a city with a special place in greek history) getting to know it and its people. Enjoying Greece at its best including the annual Exodus celebration (watch video) with participants coming from all over Greece each of them wearing their regional folk costumes (outfits). Summer-cruise of 2015 might be described under the headline of 'Europe at the Fringe'. Starting i Greece during an economic crises where nobody knew (know) the outcome (would they keep the Euro or even stay in the EU?), to Albania (a country that for many years were a completely isolated Stalinist dictatorship) further on to Montenegro the youngest state in Europe and Croatia the newest memberstate of EU. Home via the Italian east-coast (Puglia). Three months and more than 1000 nm in very nice weather, what more can you ask for? And as usual a special greeting to those whom we met while underway and thank you for beeing the nice company you are: Sue & David (SeaLegs), Tina & Les (Seaduced), Tommy (Tochida), Manfred (Fung Shui), Jaques & Evelyne (Nénuphar), Noemia & Raymon (Njord), Michael & Marie (Synapsen) Sjur & Ursula (Carpe Diem), Øjvind & Bente (Ceres), Asbjørn& Johanne (Snowbird) Peter & Bridget (White Rose) Find & Dianna (Fai Da Te), Marco (Arma di Re), Marko & Minna (Frida), Carsten & Judy (Dream), Winnie & Jesper (Fjøsen), Tony & Dawn (Aqua Domus), Bjarne & Marianne (Sjusefine), Adrian & Pennie (Maid Honor), Bruno & Jan (Carus), Mats & Lisbeth (Starlight), Hanne & Allan (Pluto), Mogens & Ninna (Havfruen), Dimitris and many, many others, but above all, Alma from Sarajevo.
Albania From Gouvia at Corfu to Vlöre im Albania is about 80 nm that we choose to do as an over night passage in order to be sure to arrive within buisiness hours. Except for one marina (Orikum near Vlöre) all ports are commercial and we would not like to leave Troldand unattended. Orikum however, is safe and a nice base from which to explore inland Albania.

Waiting to clear the papers, an agent is needed	Albania is a secularised muslim country on their way twoards modernisation

Agriculture and husbandry is still the most important way to sustain life in Albania	'They' were here as well (The Romans) and the province was called 'Illyria'
Montenegro From Vlöre Albania to Bar in Montenegro is another 80 nm and another over-night sail. It is the youngest European state, having gained independence only in 2006. There is no doubt however, that the Montenegrins is trying to put themselves on the fast track to EU, having alredy introduced the Euro as official currency. It's a small country with a lot to offer for somebody visiting in a boat.

A view over Kotor from the black mountains	The jesuit (ie. roman chatolic) monestary of Otok Gospa

Another orthodox monestary (Ostrog), bulid into the Montenegrin mountains	Various kinds of dryed meat (ham, beef etc.) is a Montenegrin speciality (as is Slivovica, a plum brandy)
Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH) In Kotor (Montenegro) we rented a small car and drowe through inland Montenegro to Sarajevo in Bosnia (BiH). It is a place that I (Sten) visited just after the civil war and under more sinister circumstances and something I have always described as a 'life changing experience'. Sarajevo is one of the most historic places one can imagine (Eric Hobsbawmn says that the 20^th century started as well as came to an end here). It was a nice experience and emotional reunion with people I knew from 20 years ago but had not seenk since then.

The famous bridge where serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip in 1914 killed the Austrian-Hungarian heir to the throne. Thereby becoming the trigger of the Great War.	View of the roofs of Sarajevo.It was from positions like this one (and continously for 3 years) that Serbian snipers aimed at tyrannizing the citys population to escape. Another variation on 'ethnic clensing'

The beautiful bridge at Mostar conecting the muslim and the croat part of the city. Last time I saw it it was destroyed by Croat fighters but it is now rebuild and a big tourist attraction	Don't forget 93, various kinds of art made from war-time leftover
Croatia Montenegro and Croatia (as BiH) are all former parts of Youguslavia. And each of them represents the various ethnic-religious-national groups fighting each other during the civil war. Since then Croatia has come a long way and are now members of EU (though not yet Schengen).

Dubrovnik one of the wonders of the world. Unfortunately the city is being suffacated by its fame and daily visited by op to 7 cruise ships at the same time	One of the hundreds of cruise ships touring the Med and the Adriatic. This particular one in fact is QEII

The gate to Korcula a beautiful walled Venetian town (and birth place of Marco Polo)	Charter flotillas are endemic to Croatia
Puglia (Italy) In order not to return to Messolonghi the same route we choose to cross over to Puglia on the Italian side. Back in Schengen again. We visited Bari, Monopoli and Brindisi and have decided that we have to spend some more time in Italy

The picturesque habour of Monopoly... and no charge at the public quay

Bari and more antique ruins, here used as a football ground	And Italian food is just 'the best'

Last update October 2017

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