Report 9th and 10th June

Report by Floor

Monday 9th June

Today we had a day off. We had a few things to do on the Model T, and we also wanted to discover Medellín.

Dirk and Daniel working

Floor went out to see the city and came back full of enthusiasm. Later that day Juan (a member of the classic car club) picked us up to guide us around in the city.

a day in Medellin

In the evening we were invited to attend the car club meeting. They gave us a few good tips for the rest of our journey. Dirk gave them a presentation about the world tour.

CCC meeting

After that we went to bed, tomorrow a long trip to Pereira.

Tuesday 10th June

Because Medellín is a huge city, Flavio (also a CCC member) showed us the way to get out of the city. Unfortunately, his car ran out of fuel, but that’s no problem for us.

Flavio needs corriente

After that, we left to Pereira. During the trip, a lot went wrong. The two cars lost each other, and Daan lost his cell phone. Finally, we found each other and we continued our trip to Pereira. In Pereira, another friend of Hugo Suarez, Henry Rivera, was waiting for us.

a warm welcome

They took us to their beautiful house. We had some drinks together, and Henry showed us his big car collection.

car collection

a nice evening

Henry brought us to a nice hotel, where we had a nice dinner.

Report 7th and 8^th June

Report by Floor

Saturday 7^th June

In the morning Dirk fixed the flat tire.

Dirk fixing the tire

After this it was time to leave. But first we had to take a million pictures with everyone from the garage.

the whole team

We left to Caucasia. Driving to Caucasia was amazing because the surrounding was beautiful. In the small towns the model T got a lot of attention.

small town

One of the highlights of today was crossing the river on an old bridge.

crossing the river

In Caucasia we met a friend of Hugo Suarez. They showed us a hotel, and after that we had a nice diner.

Sunday 8^th June

Sunday we wanted to leave early, because we had to drive for a long time threw the mountains, heading to Medellín. Unfortunately, we had rain, so we left later.

rain

We were stopped by the army several times, because they wanted to have a picture with the Model-T.

army loves the model T

We came higher and higher in the mountains. Both cars had a rough time. At 2500 meters high, we were surrounded by fog.

high in the mountains

Later, we had more delay because of rain.

and more rain

Finally we were able to continue our trip to Medellín. A few men from a local classic car club were waiting for us. They showed us a nice hotel, and we had a lovely dinner together. Tomorrow a day off!

Report June 6th.
Edit by Dirk

Today is our first day of driving in Colombia.
The trip will bring us from Cartagena to Sincelejo; about 130 miles.
But first we put the names of Floor and Daan on the hood of the Land Rover.

sticker moment

And they get the keys for the car.

keys for Floor and Daan

Than we go to the children’s centre outside Cartagena.
The Children are waiting for us in their beautiful clothes.

children’s center

The children make music for us and one of the teachers makes a South American dance with Dirk.

music 1

music 2

dance

After this beautiful meeting we continue at 12 our route to Sincelejo.

saying goodbye 1

We also say good-bye to Rodolfo, who was our guide for the time in Cartagena.

saying goodbye 2

Today is Floor’s first drive in the Land Rover.

Floor’s first drive

The mountains are very, very steep.
The Model T got a flat tire, but Daan and Dirk put a spare tire on the car.

flat tire

When we arrive near Sinclejo in the afternoon, our host Rodrigo Hernandez picked us up in his Model A pick-up.

Rodrigo

He brings us to his garage in the center of the city.
At the second floor of his garage he has an apartment, were we can spend the night.

Today we have driven more than 130 miles and we did our first climbs in the mountains without any problems.

Report 1 & 2 June
Report by Dirk & Daan

Being a tourist in Cartagena for two days, while waiting for the cars, is not a punishment.

Sunday June 1st
Today we visit the beautiful old center of this colonial city.

Floor in Cartagena

Plaza

Many beautiful ladys at Plaza de Santo Domingo.

I am not sure

In the afternoon we climb the Castello San Felipe

Castello San Felipe

Trudy & Dirk in the tower

Daan & Floor in the tower

Monday, June 2nd
Today is a national holiday so customs don’t work.

We had a wonderful lunch from Candaleria, who also stays in our house.

lunch with Candelaria

Later we visit the old city again and we had diner with Yocabet, director of SOS children’s villages and her husband Nelson.

gravitation

amigos

Tomorrow we hope we will be able to get the cars out of the container.

May 29, 30 and 31

Report by Dirk

Thursday 29th May

First we go to the harbour to inform if we can get the cars today.

After a lot of paperwork at the customs we hear that we can not get the cars today.

They told us to come back tomorrow.

At the evening Trudy drinks her first Colombian beer: Aquila, and she likes the taste, specially in this hot weather.

Trudy’s first Colombian beer

Fridday 30th May

At the harbour they tell us that we cannot pick up the cars today.

We have to come back Tuesday, next week.

So we have a couple of days to discover Cartagena; a beautiful old colonial city

Trudy & Dirk at the townwall

Dirk & driver Rudolfo

In the evening our driver Rudolfo brings us to the airport to pick up our first crew.

Daan and Floor Botter from Edam, the city where we also live in Holland.

Daan & Floor

Besides the cars, we are a complete team now.

Saturday 31st May

Today we are invited to go to the beach, not far from Cartagena, called Playa Blanca.

It is really a beautiful tropical beach and we enjoyed in our beach camp.

our beach camp

The water was nice to swim in, the food was good and the women beautiful.

beautiful woman

good food

Nelson & Dirk

Floor

On our way back we passed the harbour with a lot of containers: in one of these must be our container!!!!!!!

one of these

May 28th

Report by Dirk

Today we leave to Cartagena.

Our daughter Rozemarijn brings us to the airport and at 13.10 h. our plane depart to Panama City, our first stop.

always busy

After a flight of 10 hours we arrive in Panama City and all around us the people speaks Spanish. The last few months we followed a Spanish course but we still don’t understand what the people are talking about. But we will have time enough to practice.

After a one hour flight we arrive at 10.30 PM locale time in Cartagena.

arrival in Cartagena

There we get a warm welcome by Yocabat of SOS children´s villages of Cartagena.

welcome in Cartagena

Tomorrow morning we will wake up early to go to the harbour in the hope to pick up the cars.

It keeps always exciting to get the cars on the road in a strange country with a strange language and a lot of paperwork.