Argle-Bargle!!!!
10/28/09
After days of trying to procure boxes, which got us into such pickles as volunteering at a spay and neuter clinic, driving around getting rid of someone else’s moldy garbage and other such scream-inducing adventures, we finally bought some boxes and managed to pack all our items into 6 tidy, large (heavy!) boxes. Good use of the handcart and a stair-sliding technique reaped the rewards of being all packed up in the van. Phew!
Pre-packing fun
Feeling accomplished and proud of ourselves, we filed the necessary paperwork with our shipping company. A quick response back from our trusty contact, Vanessa, noted the fact that Tuesday next week was a Panamanian holiday, which meant customs would be closed Monday – Wednesday and perhaps all week. In fact the whole port would be closed on Tuesday, which was the stated and printed drop-off date on our contract. Therefore we need to clear customs by Friday….in Colon – a seven hour drive from our current location. Of course we had already made a lovely set of plans to go to the beach, a mountain town, a Sunday market and the rainforest in the coming days, along with another itinerary flying to the Caribbean coast after our proposed Tuesday drop-off. So today was spent trying to clarify how to clear customs in advance, plus cancelling all reservations and plans. Luckily, we are all packed and ready to go, so hopefully the hassles will be few and we will finally be able to enjoy a relaxed time in Panama when the van and our boxes are loaded on the ship and headed toward the states. Until then, hopefully a few hands of bridge and handfuls of Valium will ease the pain.
After days of trying to procure boxes, which got us into such pickles as volunteering at a spay and neuter clinic, driving around getting rid of someone else’s moldy garbage and other such scream-inducing adventures, we finally bought some boxes and managed to pack all our items into 6 tidy, large (heavy!) boxes. Good use of the handcart and a stair-sliding technique reaped the rewards of being all packed up in the van. Phew!
Pre-packing fun
Feeling accomplished and proud of ourselves, we filed the necessary paperwork with our shipping company. A quick response back from our trusty contact, Vanessa, noted the fact that Tuesday next week was a Panamanian holiday, which meant customs would be closed Monday – Wednesday and perhaps all week. In fact the whole port would be closed on Tuesday, which was the stated and printed drop-off date on our contract. Therefore we need to clear customs by Friday….in Colon – a seven hour drive from our current location. Of course we had already made a lovely set of plans to go to the beach, a mountain town, a Sunday market and the rainforest in the coming days, along with another itinerary flying to the Caribbean coast after our proposed Tuesday drop-off. So today was spent trying to clarify how to clear customs in advance, plus cancelling all reservations and plans. Luckily, we are all packed and ready to go, so hopefully the hassles will be few and we will finally be able to enjoy a relaxed time in Panama when the van and our boxes are loaded on the ship and headed toward the states. Until then, hopefully a few hands of bridge and handfuls of Valium will ease the pain.
dude. i have that same pic of jess from 20 years ago in some box in bissell. glad to see we're aging gracefully.
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Ladies!! Its been a pleasure getting to watch yr trip unfold, great photos btw! Commentary is honest and witty too lol
Sounds like shipping is as much of an odyssey as the trip was!
Dave 'chilling in placencia'
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