This article is from the old blog in 2020:

Unfortunately not ! Today is D-day +10 after our originally expected departure date and this is how we got here and where things stand.

Since mid-December the process for Trevor to officially import his car and switch number plates from diplomatic to regular Ivorian ones has been in progress, including paying substantial duties in mid-January. It has and threatens to continue to be, a long, tedious and frustrating process. Regulations and procedures are not very clear, and change depending on who you ask. Clear and decisive answers or tangible timelines are elusive. You take it day by day and work with the “true or not so true” information people, who try to help as best as they can, provide you with. Often this information proves to be incomplete or even false and you have to start approaching the matter again from a different angle. Valuable time is lost and ones blood begins to boil.

Finally, after weeks of waiting with very little to no information, at the end of February hopes were raised when the car needed to be taken the roadworthy inspection. The RAV passed with flying colours and expectations were that the process was close to its end. Astonishingly, the “system” had been changed and we were sent from pillar to post. Still no word on the new registration number, as it was “expected” to help us in initiating other paperwork.

After several broken promises, today we received word that a new Ivorian registration number had been assigned to the car. Finally, we could see light at the end of the tunnel. But, as they say, it was only a train coming ! The car documents are still not ready yet and there are again differing opinions of how, who and where to obtain them. Also the actual number plate still needs to be fabricated and attached to the vehicle. At the moment it still drives with a temporary license.

Finally, we at least had the number that was key to arranging some additional paperwork to be completed. That included requesting a “Carnet ATA”, a customs document to simplify border crossing as well as shipping the cars back to Africa, a sort of temporary import permit, but that is a story for another time. Charlotte and Ulrich grabbed the already prepared documentation and the cheque for the security deposit and headed to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, responsible for the issuing the Carnet. To their consternation, and despite e-mail confirmation the day before that the documentation could be lodged, they were told to return early next week with a complete set of documentation including the car papers. Grrrrrr…!!

At least the insurance company agreed to change the national as well as ECOWAS insurance papers for the car based on the new registration number. A box finally ticked!!

In the meantime, the delayed departure has meant that several visas would expire before we have completed visiting the particular country and Charlotte has been busy visiting the various Embassies and consulates to ask for extensions. Fortunately it has been possible so far, although one did argue quite forcefully that 20 January to 20 March is three months ! It took some of Charlotte’s long lost teaching experience, lots of patience and counting on fingers to finally convince them that 3 months from 20 January is 20 April !

With admiration we have taken note of the very professional COVID19 screening and safeguarding measures in our home country Côte d’Ivoire and the surrounding West African countries. They often have a more practical approach than other countries. We remain hopeful that our travels will not be significantly disturbed or even interrupted by the virus.

When will we finally leave for our big adventure? Good question. As soon as we have all the necessary paperwork done and in the pocket! It might take a few more frustrating days … and we sincerely hope that COVID19 and the rainy season stay away !

#frustratingtowait #battlingbureaucracy #tryingtostaypositive #lookingforwardtothetrip