6 hours, 0 minutes, 240 kilometers (150 miles), yeah, that’s correct!
I’m just a tourist!
It never ceases to amaze me how difficult the visa process is.
Daily Diary
My view from my room in Cabinda – Day 1.
Hitting the Road
There’s always a shortage of gasoline in Angola. The holiday didn’t seem to help either because there were no shipments. Even my go-to PUMA was out!!!
Luckily, I was able to find a place and the guard pushed me to the front of the line. I guess he figured I’d be tipping! Well, when gas is $1.25 a gallon, why not???
The road conditions varied, again, from nice to not nice, to sand, to loose gravel, to packed sand, and you name it.
I realized my microphone was outside my helmet as I posted this! I’ll put the comments below, one more thing to add to my checklist!
Some old seaside town that looks like it was abandoned when the Portuguese left and then attacked in the 90s.
Got to ride through the towering mangroves and some old sandbagged gunner positions from the last war.
The skies darkened and then cleared again.
Kids love to scream when you go by! They really help lighten the mood on the road. Remember, waves are free!
Made it to the border! Now, let’s get out of Angola and into the Congo!
No Entry to Congo
I walked up to the counter and gave the guy my passport and he said “No problem, take a seat”. I sat down and waited for about 10 minutes when he came back to me and said “I can’t process your visa. You cannot enter Congo without a valid Visa”. I showed him my papers and told him that they said that I would get my stamp at the border, he basically shrugged me off. Great.
So, I’ve already left Angola, I don’t have a multi-entry visa for Angola, so technically there’s nowhere for me to go now. Well, luckily I found a money-changer and he spoke some English, so he took me back to the Angolan side.
I explained my situations, and luckily there’s a Congolese consulate in Cabinda! So, now all I have to do is go back to Cabinda and get my stamp and then come back. Well, I googled the consulate and they were already closed. No problem, I’ll just go back for the night, get up early and get it resolved.
After getting my exit stamp cancelled, my road tax paperwork reinstated, and the police paper signed, I was off.
Funny thing, the immigration person wanted me to fill out an “Entry” form, that he scribbled in “Exit” form when I was leaving the first time, and then scribbled it out again when I returned. Absolutely hilarious. I also had to show my vaccinations again, including another copy, and the health officer told me I needed to have my cholera vaccine?
He couldn’t read my card, but luckily my friend was able to point it out to him.
I’m going back to ‘Binda, ‘Binda, ‘Binda… hmm, I don’t think so.
Looks like I forgot a step.
Back where I started.
Ok, got the photos and I’m good to go!
Cabinda Redux
Same hotel, different room, same restaurant, different meal. It wasn’t too late, but it was getting late.
Pork chop, Portuguese style. I really need to make this when I get back home.
These two guys were there the night before, and said “I thought you were leaving?” I said, “tonight is my last night”.
Watched some futball, Napoli getting a red card in the first few minutes!
Sorry, Ciro!
Short walk back to the hotel, figured I do some window shopping for my wife.
Hmm, I don’t think so.
Good night!