Yesterday we met young travelers from Upper Austria. They also came to Rabat because of getting some “visa work” done. So, they parked their huge expedition trucks in the street of the Mauritanian embassy and had to wake up at three o’clock in the morning today in order to wait in line for almost five hours until the embassy opened.

Domi helped them with filling out the French written visa application form.

The fellow Austrian travelers are on their way to travel all over West Africa.

However we are still in Rabat trying to get as many visas we can.

Exactly twelve months ago we started this blog named “Herbie’s World Tour”. Since then we posted far more than 200 articles and welcomed ump-thousand visitors.

At this point we want to say thank you for following the adventures of our so-called Love Bug who obviously has got the travel bug, pulling the camper all around the world!

We came to Rabat in order to get visas for the following countries: Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola and Sudan. Meanwhile we obtained the first three of the mentioned eleven countries and we’ve already applied for Nigeria.

So far, the embassies of Benin, Cameroon, Gabon and Angola didn’t want to issue visas for us, because we are not Moroccan residents. They told us to speak to our diplomatic representation in Rabat, so that the Austrian Ambassador could intervene by writing a letter to the respective Embassies.

As the weekend is just around the corner we’ll have to wait until Monday to get things done. We’ve already been in contact with the Embassy of Austria via email. Now we hope that they will help us getting all the visas we need.

While we were waiting in line at an embassy in Rabat, we met an extraordinary person. Her name is Emma Vånemo, she is 26 years old and from Sweden. We talked about Herbie’s World Tour and she seemed to be very interested in what we’re doing. We asked about her plans and it turned out that she is also on the way down south. But here it comes – she’s cycling all the way to South Africa!

On her travel blog “The Skipping Kangaroo” you can follow her adventurous journey, which she’s doing by riding her bicycle from Sweden to the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa. Hopefully our paths will cross again sometime, somewhere, somehow!

“KidsKrone”, the Austrian magazine for the young, just printed a story about our tour around the world in Herbie. This journal for kids is out now in the stores!

Yesterday we arrived in Rabat – from Tangier it was a 200 miles (about 300 km) trip. Our goal for here is to get as many visas for potential upcoming countries as possible.

Souissi is the district where most of the embassies and consulates are. We already got to know fellow campers from the UK and Germany, who are also “doing visas” here.

Today we were finally able to apply for a visa for Mauritania. We woke up at 4:30 a.m. Luckily we got the numbers 16 and 17 in and endless line of about 100 people.

Today in the afternoon we’ll try to pick up our visas. That would be visa number two, after Mali, we already did yesterday. Tomorrow we’ll hopefully get Burkina Faso.

We really enjoyed being on a ship for two days crossing the Mediterranean Sea. On our trip we had a short stop in Barcelona, Spain, before we passed the British overseas territory, Gibraltar, and arrived in Tangier, yesterday. Meanwhile we are already in Rabat, Morocco’s capital, in order to get some “visa work” done.

After saying “good-bye” to our family and friends we started a new chapter of Herbie’s World Tour by heading all the way to Genoa, Italy, where we’ll go on board a cruise ship named “Fantastic” by “Grandi Navi Veloci” to Tangier in Morocco, Africa.

We drove about 1,000 miles (1,600 km) through Austria and Italy. We reached our destination, Genoa, on time. Herbie and the camper are waiting outside while we’re connecting to the world wide web at a fast food restaurant.

Tomorrow we’ll celebrate Domi’s 29^th birthday somewhere in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. On Monday we’ll arrive in Tangier, Morocco.

Next week, on December 1^st, we’ll leave Europe by taking a ferry across the Mediterranean Sea to Tangier, Morocco. From there we’ll be heading towards Rabat, Morocco’s capital, in order to get visas for upcoming countries like Mauritania and Mali.

We’ll celebrate Domi’s birthday (December 2^nd) while we’re on the ship, reaching Morocco on Monday, December 3^rd. The ferry boat which will be carrying Herbie, the camper and us is operated by an Italian company called “Grandi Navi Veloci”.

The so-called “Carnet de Passages en Douane” (CPD) or simply “Carnet” allows travelers to temporarily import their motor vehicles and trailers without having to leave a cash deposit at the border. It is an international guarantee for payment of customs expenses to a government should the vehicle not be re-exported from that country.

We just got it issued by the Austrian Automobile Association named ÖAMTC. We need that, as we’ll be touring to Africa. It is in general strictly required for countries in Asia, Africa, Oceania and the Middle East. Therefore we also had it when we started Herbie’s World Tour in 2009. The “Carnet” is valid for not more than one year.

Recently some folks and their VWs from our club “DLV – Aircooled Community” had a photo shoot at a shopping mall parking garage in Vienna. Christian, Georgy, Benjamin, Flo, Aly and Domi showed up and took some pictures. Afterwards we all gathered at Friedrich’s shop in Vienna’s second district (see final image).

At this point we want to say thank you to all supporters of Herbie’s World Tour! We would particularly like to thank the following people for their valuable contribution:

Our longtime friend and master mechanic Friedrich Hübsch from Vienna.

“Mick” from Mick Motors Australia, who we have met on our tour around the world.

And all the friends from our club “DLV – Aircooled Community”.

As you can see on the map below, we discovered another way to get to Africa. Therefore we’re planning to drive to Genoa, Italy, in order to take a ship to Morocco.

In Austria it was getting quite chilly within the last weeks. About a week ago we already had the first snowfall. So, hopefully we’ll be leaving our home country this month.

As Herbie’s World Tour isn’t going to end soon, we’ve been looking for sponsorships in order to continue what we’ve begun three years ago. “Mick Motors” from Brisbane, Australia, is one of those sponsors! We got to know Mick when we traveled all across “down under” and Herbie started leaking motor oil. The Love Bug needed new oil cooler gaskets very badly… After all, Mick was the one who helped us out!

Domi finished his work on the engine of Herbie No. II. Instead of the fuel injected 1,600 cc, the Love Bug got now his original 1,200 cc back. The motor came from a burnt out Volkswagen Bug made in Mexico. Domi installed brand new cylinders and pistons as well as an additional modern type oil filter. Herbie is now ready to go A-F-R-I-C-A!

Flo from DLV and Friedrich helped Domi putting the “new” engine together and also surprised him with a very special feature – a light for the engine bay. At this point we want to say thank you for all your help and support on Herbie’s World Tour!

This week Domi and Flo drove to Bavaria, Germany, where they picked up again another Volkswagen Bug “1600i” for their friend Friedrich. On the way, Herbie made a stop in Salzburg, the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Flo and Domi strolled around downtown and had a little coffee break. They enjoyed this trip a lot!

Recently we cut a Volkswagen Bug into halves and hung its passenger’s side up on the wall of Friedrich’s shop in Vienna. The Bug is from the mid 90ies made in Mexico.

See the hanging Bug at Helenengasse Viaduktbogen 23 in Vienna’s second district!

This week, Domi and Flo made a trip over 1,700 miles (about 2,700 km) to Germany. They picked up a Volkswagen Bug “1600i” (fuel injected 1,600 cc) from 1995 for their friend and mechanic Friedrich. They also got some special spare parts for him.

Flo and Domi started their trip in the morning and were gone for almost 48 hours.

On the freeway they met a Volkswagen Bug “Ovali” (with the oval rear window).

The picture above shows its proud owner and Flo at a rest area in Germany.

After 24 hours Domi and Flo arrived at the car dealer and their bought car (left).

VW “1600i” are very rare in Austria. They are featured with a fuel injected engine.

But the Bug wasted a lot of oil on their way back – unbelievable two gallons!!!

Probably the gaskets of the oil cooler were the reason for this big oil loss. Anyway they made it back to Vienna and are safe. Next week they will make another trip to Germany in order to pick up a “1600i”, but this time they just have to drive to Bavaria.

Here are the pictures of the first “DLV Late Summer Ride”, which took place yesterday. We were driving our new friend “Trabi” and we had a blast! You can find more photos by following this link. The whole event was a full success. More than 50 air-cooled vehicles showed up. We are already looking forward to next year’s ride!

On September 16, there will be the first public air-cooled drive called “Late Summer Ride” along Vienna’s longest street, the world famous “Höhenstraße” winding through the forest of Austria’s capital. Herbie’s friends from DLV will organize this event, at which all air-cooled vintage cars are invited to take part. You can find more information by following this link or by clicking on the picture above!

Herbie’s World Tour got featured in the latest version of “The Campervan Life” – a British air-cooled VW magazine. By clicking on the article below you’ll get to its website.

As you’ve probably read the article above, Herbie is still looking for sponsors for his ongoing trip around the world. If you are interested in supporting the Love Bug, please get in touch with us! We would love to have you as a part of Herbie’s World Tour!

As we said, Herbie’s World Tour is not over yet! We are planning to explore Africa in Herbie No. II during the upcoming winter. Our first destination in Africa would be Cairo, Egypt, because we want to travel across Africa by going along the East Coast all the way down to South Africa. Originally, we thought that there are different ways to get there, but it turned out to be much more complicated. Is this a mission impossible?

1. Primarily we were thinking about taking a ferry from somewhere in Italy directly to Alexandria, Egypt. BUT all ferries got suspended in the last years.
2. Israel has a border with Egypt (Sinai Peninsula), so we were searching for a ferry to the Middle East. BUT also these ferries aren’t existing anymore.
3. So we thought, why not taking the long way to Cairo – via France, Spain and Gibraltar through the African Arab countries. BUT Algeria and Libya require special permissions to enter the country (“invitation letter” etc.).
4. Domi’s friend, Manuel, was traveling across Africa via Syria in 2009, BUT this seems to be impossible in 2012. Thanks Mr. Assad!

We’re still planning on continuing Herbie’s World Tour by traveling Africa, BUT on the one hand, there are no ferries from Europe to Africa across the Mediterranean Sea and on the other hand, countries like Syria or Libya make it almost impossible to cross.

Where there is a will, there is a way! BUT where? Too many “buts”?

Our second Herbie drove us and “QEK Junior”, the camper, all across Europe last year and should put even more miles on. We’re planning on another road trip with Herbie!

Domi bought Herbie, a “Volkswagen Type 11 Luxus”, on June 1, 2007, from Ewald Artmayr, who was owner for six years and who lived in Stadt Haag, Upper Austria.

Originally our Herbie No. II was manufactured in 1963 and got sold to a farmer called Leopold Reisinger from Haibach, Upper Austria, on June 19 of the same year.

Domi and his friend Flo made another trip to Germany in order to pick up a blue Volkswagen Bug from 1989 for their friend and mechanic, Friedrich. They left Austria on Wednesday in the evening and got back Friday morning. However, as it transpired, this trip should get a challenging and nerve wrecking adventure for both of them.

The tow bar was a back up if they couldn’t get the blue VW running. The engine was dismantled and they had to put everything together before actually driving it.

They got the car running, but the dynamo was broken! They decided to drive without using it and changing the batteries from one car to the other every time they stop.

They even disconnected the wires of the dynamo in order to save energy and just used the batteries to keep the car running. It was exhausting changing batteries so often.

But during the night and the need of lights the cars were sucking more energy than one car could produce, so they had to tow the blue Bug for the rest of the night.

It is prohibited to tow a car on the freeway, so they depended on highways. Therefore they had to use the GPS, but they had no cigarette lighter (see above).

Just 34 horsepower (1,200 cc) towed another Bug for more than 370 miles (600 km) all the way from Germany to Austria. But it worked, even though it took forever.

We just bought another cult car! It is a “Trabant 601S de Luxe” manufactured in former East Germany before the Iron Curtain came down. Even though, the “Time” magazine rated the so-called “Trabi” as one of the 50 worst cars ever made, Domi loves to drive it – and it has an air-cooled two-stroke powered engine with 26 horsepower and 600 cc. The “Trabi” will be our daily driver, while Herbie goes around the world.