The Minivan Arrived!
We got the minivan! This whole process has been a pain in the ass, but we now feel oddly triumphant, as well as relieved. I will not go on another tirade, but in case you ever decide to ship a car to Columbia, this is what we endured:
Monday, June14 – Thursday, June 17: Numerous emails to the shipping agency requesting status.
Friday, June 18: Good news! The ship arrived to Cartagena (only 5 days late…) and we can get our minivan! We go to the shipping agency to get the bill of lading. Go to customs to get vehicle docs, told to make copies of Columbian entry stamp on passport and return at 3pm. Upon return, told that the ship is still being unloaded and can’t get docs until Monday.
Monday, June 21: Go to customs and get docs in morning. Told to go to port at 2pm for inspection. Go to port, go back to shipping agency for another stamp, go to doc control for docs and invoice, pay invoice at bank. Have a confusing conversation with customs inspector and finally figure out that inspection is done and we need to go back to customs. Go to customs and wait, wait, wait – already 4:30pm and we are nervous that it will be too late to get the minivan. Finally get customs docs, go back to port, get exit papers (requiring 9 fingerprints from Paul). With all signed and stamped papers in hand, go to port security. Now 6pm – closing time – but some workers seem to stay and a new shift arrives. Paul and Rick, who shared the container with us, now clad in hard hats, are escorted to the container while I wait at the security office. They wait, wait, wait and a bunch of people finally show up. The dock workers can’t figure out how to open the seal on the containers that the Columbian inspector put on. They finally cut the seal and open the container. Wait for 2 guys to set up the ramp and unstrap the vehicles. Now about 7pm – mosquitoes out in full force and we think the kids, who are at the hotel, are probably worrying. Security completes documentation, then get in the car and drive away! The saving grace of this whole ordeal is our cab driver, Jesus, who stays with us throughout the entire two days and drives us from place to place. We even follow Jesus in our minivan back to our hotel, fearing that we may get lost. We pay him $60 for his services for 2 days, and he seems pleased.
Upon arrival to the hotel, we receive high fives and hugs from the kids. We spend our last night in Cartagena celebrating. Yummy dinner at the restaurant in front of our hotel, carriage ride through the old town, and gourmet ice cream. Everyone goes to bed very happy.
Tags: Columbia, Travel
hwy1alltheway
Great story. What an adventure!