Saturday, November 15, 2014

Day 2 & 3 - Panama


Day 2 was used up – getting to Balboa (where all the permits, etc need to be completed)

Spent the night in a sad and evil looking place –reminded me of the movie Hostel – couldn't get out fast enough next morning!

OK, so I go looking for the RORO (Ferry Express) office (new RORO ferry that now connects Colon to Cartagena) – the official address leads me to a slum!?

Not looking good – it’s evident I may need help! Finally, call the ferry people – and the address has changed and of course addresses in Panama never really work – no kidding!

He also gave me a long list of requirements/documents – that should take a week to finish! Today being Friday – I need to get everything done today to make the Monday sailing – OK I desperately need help!

Checked into a nice small hotel and asked the manager for a ‘Fixer’ – no, he or she is not a hit man/woman – 'Fixer' is a person who gets things done – found them very useful when I crossed the Panama Canal

And he did – clarified what was required and what was not and 3 hours later it was all done! A process that would have had me running around in circles for days – money well spent!

Official paperwork is done tomorrow I book passage (Saturday morning) for Monday sailing ;-)

I will be writing a detailed write up – on what documents are required, where to get them, where the ferry office is – in a day or two

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