Geoff Brock & Bruce Gamble
         
     
   
 
 
 
 

Exploring Vlorë, followed by
an afternoon at Appolonia
Tuesday 30th May 2017
 
 
This is where the published itinerary didn't quite match reality. For reasons that we didn't quite understand, the ship wasn't able to dock or indeed anchor near Sazan Island. Instead we docked in the port of Vlorë. We were given the option of going on a local tender to Sazan Island, a journey time of approx. 75-90 minutes each way, but it was very hot indeed, so we decided instead to explore the port town by ourselves and to take the excursion to Appolonia in the afternoon.
 
We arrived in the port of Vlorë early in the morning. By 8:30am, the people taking the excursion to Sazan Island had disembarked and walked across the pier to catch their little boat.
 
 
Sazan Island can be seen in the distance.
 
After a leisurely breakfast, we set off on foot to explore Vlorë town.
 
 
Mind the gap, Vlorë style
 
Vlorë port entrance
 
Taken in the afternoon from the coach, on our way to the ancient site of Appolonia.
 
Bunkers from the former communist era litter the countryside.
Some estimates number them at 750,000!
 
 
The Theatre at Appolonia
 
Temple at Appolonia
 
Beautiful countryside from the site of Appolonia.
Communist era fortifications (we think) on the hill.
 
The Byzantine church at Appolonia
 
Mosiacs at Appolonia
 
 
 
 
Inside the Byzantine church at Appolonia
 
 
 
Artefact in the museum at Appolonia
 
Leaving Vlorë.
 
Next stop - Sarandë.
 
 
©Geoff Brock and Bruce Gamble