This was an exhausting day for us! And sadly we have to wait at least one more day to obtain Herbie who is still sitting at the sea port and whom we haven’t seen yet.

In the morning we took a taxi to our shipping agency in order to get the original Bill of Lading (B/L). After that we went to the local customs just a few blocks further.

They sent us to the port authority where Zainab was not allowed to go in. Only the consignee Domi was supposed to enter the building – in proper shoes and long pants.

Zainab was waiting while Domi went through all the port formalities. We both hoped that we can pick up Herbie today but Domi had bad news when he came out of the building.

It is not done yet! They couldn’t arrange an inspection of the car for today. All in all Zainab stood by for more than five hours. This is truly a red tape odyssey for us!

Tomorrow Zainab will reside at the hotel and Domi will try to complete this odyssey. The agenda for tomorrow: Vehicle inspection and the temporary import permit.

As we cannot post images of Herbie in South America yet, we thought of taking photos of another interesting Volkswagen Beetle which we spotted in town today.

This VW Bug might be made in Brazil where such cars are are called “Fusca”. They feature thicker door and windscreen posts compared to German ones which had that just until 1964. That is to say that Herbie has a very similar body to this “Fusca”.

We are still in Cartagena, capital of the Bolívar Department and fifth-largest city in Colombia, aka the “Capital of the Caribbean”. Herbie’s ship has arrived today but we were not able to deliver him from the harbor as we couldn’t comply with all formalities. Therefore we have to wait until Monday in order to proceed. It is a bit hard to know that our companion Herbie is already here but we can’t get to him.

Herbie’s vessel, the “Global Leader”, should arrive in Cartagena of the West Indies by tomorrow, according to its latest prediction. On January 26 we had to say “good-bye” to our lovely Bug. We miss him a lot! Hopefully we’ll get him back very soon.

Today we saw a Volkswagen Beetle here in Colombia for the first time – against one’s expectations in a pretty good shape, if you think of the harsh climate down here.

Regarding to its hood it seems to be a Bug with 1,600 cc and the owner might be a Christian. However the car is definitely registered in Cartagena (see license plates).

Before we’ll be able to welcome Herbie again, we have to go through a lot of bureaucratic procedures. First and foremost we have to obtain the original Bill of Lading (B/L) in order to receive a temporary import permit from the local custom authorities.

Here you can find Zainab’s YouTube channel “zainsational”. Just click on the picture!

We hope all of you had a happy Valentine’s day.

In Cartagena two guys were giving free hugs and kisses. Their signs were written in English so we guess it was just meant for people who are able to read and understand this language. For us it is just a day like any other – hugs and kisses every day!

We are still in Cartagena, Colombia, waiting for our Love Bug. On Friday Herbie’s ship should arrive but we don’t think that we’ll get him out of the harbor before the weekend. So we’ll be here probably one more week. After our reunion we’ll be following the great Pan-American Highway through continent number five: South America.

There are different types of shipping a vehicle. The most common ones are by container, “LoLo” (Lift-On/Lift-Off) and “RoRo” (Roll-On/Roll-Off). This time we’re shipping Herbie via “RoRo” from Veracruz to Cartagena – across the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. There are always pros and cons regarding the various types.

We also tried the container option. Herbie and our trailer “QEK Junior” got 44 foot containers from Chennai (India) to Melbourne (Australia) and from Brisbane to Long Beach (USA). From Sharjah (UAE) to Bandar-Abbas (Iran), from Tallinn (Estonia) to Helsinki (Finland), from Dunkirk (France) to Dover (UK) and from there back to Calais we did it via “RoRo”, with the advantage of being on board with our set-up.

It is our third day in “Cartagena de Indias”, where Herbie is supposed to arrive by ship next week. Here is a lot to see! Many backpackers and other tourists are strolling through town. An interesting historical fact is, that Cartagena and Veracruz were the only cities authorized to trade African slaves within the colonial territories of Spain.

As we are already in Cartagena, Colombia, Herbie is on his way going to South America by ship. His vessel, the “Global Leader”, is meanwhile rescheduled the fourth time. According to the latest schedule Herbie arrives in Cartagena on February 17.

We’d love to drive all the way around the world but as we posted before there is no other way than shipping to get a car from North or Central to South America, because of the so-called Darién Gap which creates the missing link of the Pan-American Highway.

Three flights later we safely arrived in Cartagena, Colombia. We took a taxi to Getsemani. This is a district, which is located between the sea port and the very center.

We spent our first night at a different spot than today. We switched the place because we were not satisfied at all with the first one we had.

Now we’re staying at a hotel named “Los Muros”. We got a fan and running water. These are probably the most important things in order to stand heat and humidity.

We are lucky because our room is located in the back of the building. Especially during the nights there are many, many people on the streets making party all night long.

Don’t get surprised if you get to Cartagena one day. It is definitely pretty expensive compared to other cities in Colombia or Latin America.

We feel secure! People in Europe or North America would often say, Colombia is one of those place where they would not recommend to go but it seems to be fine yet.

Our hotel is just across “Casa Viena”, a hostel which is owned by an Austrian and his Colombian wife. “Viena” stands for “Vienna” – the capital of Austria.

Yesterday it was our last day in Veracruz and with Daniel. He’ll fly back home to Europe in the afternoon today. We already took off to Mexico City waiting for our connection flight via Panama City to Cartagena, Colombia, where Herbie will arrive one week later.

Today we spent time strolling through the streets of Veracruz. It was also our last day with Domi’s best friend Daniel. Tomorrow he’ll fly back to Vienna, Austria, and we’ll head off to Cartagena, Colombia, in order to continue our trip across South America.

The Volkswagen Bug was introduced to Mexicans in 1954. At that time four VW Beetles were shipped to Veracruz. The first Bug “Hecho en Mexico” was assembled in 1961.

In 1971 more than 200,000 units were produced and the exports to Europe and Costa Rica began. Just nine years later, in 1980, already more than a million were made.

In 1985, the official export to Europe ended and 20 million were sold. These were the reasons to launch a special edition in a grey metallic color called “Jubiläumskäfer”.

In 1994, Volkswagen celebrated its 40th anniversary in Mexico. Three limited editions from the “Vocho“ were launched: “Firebeetle”, “Edition One” and “40th Anniversary”.

1995 was a very important year for the Mexican Beetle, because many improvements were fitted into the car. All together 87 details were changed according to Volkswagen.

The production plant is located in Puebla de Zaragoza, Puebla, ever since – quite close to Mexico City – the probably biggest city on earth regarding its number of inhabitants.

Examples for other special editions of Volkswagen Beetles in Mexico were: “Clásico”, “Jeans”, “Europa”, “City”, “Harlekin”, “Wolfsburg Edition”, “Unificado” and “Summer”.

2002 a new decree by the governor of Mexico City was set, which prohibited new permits for public transportation in the form of taxis to two door cars as “Vochos”.

In the year 2003 the last special edition was created – the so-called “Última Edición” (first picture on top of this article). 3,000 units were made, but the very last one was shipped out from Veracruz to the Volkswagen Museum in Wolfsburg, Germany.

“It was incredible that such a small car leaves such a large emptiness.
Goodbye Beetle!”

The year is AD 1864 when Maximilian I from Austria, brother of Austrians Emperor Franz Joseph I, arrived in Veracruz, Mexico, as its new leader. He was proclaimed as the Emperor of Mexico and was therefore the only monarch of the Mexican Empire.

But a Mexican lawyer an politician called Benito Pablo Juárez García got already president of Mexico in 1858. He of course refused to recognize Maximilian’s rule, although the Austrian had the backing of Napoléon III from France and others.

Finally, on June 19, 1867, His Imperial Majesty, Maximilian I from Austria, Emperor of Mexico, who has been captured, was sentenced to death by execution. His last words were, “I forgive everyone, and I ask everyone to forgive me. May my blood which is about to be shed, be for the good of the country. Viva Mexico, viva la independencia!”.

We took another walk to the port the other day. Seagulls were sitting lined up on a rope. Just when they were about to take off, Domi got these awesome shots.

We’re staying at a very neat place called “Hotel Reforma” since we arrived in Veracruz. It’s located quite close to the old center in a narrow street named “Callejón Reforma”.

We got to Veracruz ten days ago in order to ship Herbie from here to South America.

Just besides our place there is a banana tree, but the bananas are not ripe yet.

Our Hotel is right in a kind of small pedestrian zone which makes it not too noisy.

Everywhere you can find little shrines. Catholicism is of course the main religion.

We’ll stay here four more days before we take off towards Cartagena, Colombia.

Domi’s longest friend, Daniel, just arrived in Veracruz. He took a week off and decided to visit us here in Mexico. He’ll be with us until February 8. On that day he’ll fly back home and we’ll take off to Colombia in order to follow the Pan-American Highway.

Daniel Wertheim was born in Madrid, Spain, but spent his infancy in Klosterneuburg-Weidling, Austria, where Domi was raised too. Both of them are now 28 years old and know each other ever since. They even shared the same apartment in the past.

Still in Veracruz, but meanwhile a very good friend of Domi is visiting us here in Mexico. He’ll stay until we head off to South America. Today Herbie is supposed to go on board.

Yesterday we were a little bit shopping and Domi bought himself a new hat. We asked for the biggest size but the one we got was still too small until the seller reshaped it. In the following you can get more impressions of the metropolis on the Gulf of Mexico.

More images from Veracruz on the Gulf of Mexico as we’re staying here until February 8 while Herbie’s getting shipped to another part of Latin America: Cartagena, Colombia.

Herbie’s ship, the “Global Leader”, got another delay. This is quite frustrating!

Every day of traveling is like meeting a new challenge. You have to go through it, because there is no other way out. Therefore we are still in Veracruz waiting for the vessel’s departure. But we’ll go by plane to Cartagena, Columbia, on February 8, in order to pick up “Ocho” three days later. Hopefully there will be no further delay.

Herbie is still “sitting on the dock of the bay”, waiting for his ship going to Colombia.
Domi took another walk through town and got some more shots of Veracruz for you.

As we’ll be in Veracruz until February 8, we have the perfect possibility to explore this city. Therefore we want to share with you our impressions. This is just the first part of it.

Today we had to say “good-bye” to Herbie. Even though not all bureaucratic requirements are conformed yet, we already brought our beloved Volkswagen to the port. We are sorry that we can’t post any last pictures of “Ocho” before he is going to be on his way to South America. Domi wanted to take at least one shot so badly. He literally begged for the allowance to get some photos but it was strictly prohibited by the port executives.

It was an exhausting day for both of us. We didn’t expect that we’ll have to deliver the vehicle today, so we were not prepared at all. We had two hours to get the car ready to go. Later on, when we arrived at the harbor, they told us that one of us has to leave before entering the area. Only one person is supposed to drive the car into the port. Finding a taxi outside the city is not an easy task but we were lucky. After about ten minutes we got one and Zainab was on her way back to the hotel.

After passing several check points Herbie and Domi finally reached their destination. Our Number 53 ended up parking just besides three other air-cooled classic cars (Fiat 500, Fiat 600 and Citroën 2CV) and a Mini Cooper as well as hundreds of brand new Japanese vehicles which are all supposed to be shipped overseas.

We visited another archeological site of a Mesoamerican city just outside of Veracruz. It is called Cempoala which would stand for the “place of twenty waters”.

It perhaps got its name because the city, which was founded in AD 1,200, had many aqueducts and irrigation channels.

In the past it was one of the biggest cities on the Gulf of Mexico with about 30,000 inhabitants and was the capital of the Kingdom of Totonacapan.

When the Spanish came in 1519 reaching the mainland of America, the Totonacs got the first ally with the well-known conqueror and colonizer Hernán Cortés.

The truth is, that the people of Totonacapan were heavily taxed by the Spanish. They were even forced to send hundreds of people as a tribute for sacrifices and as slaves.

However the leader of the Totonacs named “Quauhtlaebana” tried to cement the so-called alliance in giving one of his daughters as a kind of gift to Cortés.

It is hard to think about that Europeans “invaded” these countries in a very brutal way in order to expand the Empire and missionize native American people.