Albania, Himare to Saranda

After leaving Himare, we headed south to Saranda. The road initially went inland and we rejoined the coast by Llaman beach.  The next bay is Porto Palermo. Huffington Post ranked Porto Palermo first among 15 Undiscovered European Destinations for 2014. The area together with Llamani beach will be proclaimed a protected area holding the status of Protected Landscape by the Albanian Government [Wikipedia] . Llaman -

The area above Porto Palermo bay was/is occupied by a large military base. See more here.

It was interesting to see the hills covered in agave, these were planted during the rule of leader Enver Hoxha to prevent parachuters from landing.

The Porto Palermo Tunnel is claimed to be a submarine bunker built during Hoxha's time. Our guide Viktor told us that the key to the door is lost and no one knows if there are submarines still inside! See Wikipedia Porto Palermo Tunnel

Nowadays it is used for joint exercises with other countries such as the UK and USA.

In the middle of Porto Palermo bay is a small peninsula with Porto Palermo Castle. This is another castle said to have been built by Ali Pasha of Tepelen, for one of his mistresses. However it is more likely to have been built by the Venetians in the 1660s, though the stronghold walls and gates were built by Ali Pasha.

Painting of Lord Byron in the castle - he was friends with Ali.

Our next stop was at Borsch, where after a coffee we visited the local school. Borsch beach -

Further along the coast we stopped  near Kodra Lapidarit peak and walked to a viewpoint.

Praying mantis and a cricket -

Then it was back to Saranda.

We stayed slightly out of town in an area of new apartments and hotels. Not an area I would chose for a holiday. From the hotel -

That evening we went back up to Lekursi Castle for dinner and to see Saranda by night.

Next day we had a quick look at the ruins of a 5-6th c. synagogue and basilica.

Then we went out to Butrint World Heritage Site. After we had lunch in Ksamil, which is one of Albania's busiest tourist areas.

Mussel farms on the lake

Then it was back to Saranda in time to catch the ferry back to Corfu.