Docufilms.com ^®

The Albanian coast is situated only a few kilometres away from Corfu. Nevertheless, the half-day excursions to Saranda are regarded by tourists as something of an adventure trip, requiring a certain amount of courage. For Albania still has the reputation of being an unsafe country. Yet the “Albanian Riviera”, as the locals name this stretch of the coast, has a real paradise to offer with kilometre-long deserted beaches and hidden bays, particularly between Vlora and Butrint on the southern border to Greece. According to legend Odysseus and his followers dropped anchor here. Caesar used this region as a base for his battles against Pompey and for crossings to Egypt to Cleopatra. Half a million concrete bunkers recall the era of the cold war: they were built along the coastline by the paranoid Communist party leader Enver Hoxha to deter putative invasions by “imperialist enemies”. Albania would like to get rid of its negative image and open its coast to West European tourism. Already on offer is “Europe’s Last Secret” in tourism: the Albanians proudly present their virtually unspoiled coast and their traditional hospitality.