Day 17

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Created on Wednesday, 23 September 2015 20:21

09/21/2015 Sharjah (United Arab Emirates UAE)

Today was the first "day of waiting" on our world tour; we have to wait for the appointment to ship our Deloreans to Mumbai. After breakfast at our hotel Al Hamra

we left our cars at the hotel car park (we do not have any insurance for the UAE) and went by taxi to our shipping agent Hatim. We gave him our documents and we received a first schedule for the shipping. Once we have confirmed information they are to read there.

Our taxi driver had to refuel on the way from Sharjah to Dubai, the liter of gasoline costs about 45 cents (€) / 50 cents ($) here.

In the afternoon we explored the area and stocked up ourselves with drinks and food in a supermarket.

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Day 15 and 16

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Created on Tuesday, 22 September 2015 12:30

09/19/2015-09/20/2015 Bandar Abbas (Iran) - Sharjah (United Arab Emirates UAE)

We had read several reports on the Internet about the chaotic exit and shipment procedures in Bandar Abbas in advance; an odyssey to individual offices, counters and authorities has to be completed. Therefore with mixed feelings we started early on Saturday morning, going into an anticipated and stressful day. The first path led to the Shipping Agency halfway to the harbor where we paid the passage for our Deloreans in hard US$ and we got the first forms. There we met Rainer from Hanover; he is on a world tour with his Mercedes G and he has also visited Iran. He also booked a ticket to Sharjah.

Ten minutes later we drove to the harbor area and parked the cars in front of the customs building.

A facilitator named Siroos spoke to us and promised to help. As it turned out in retrospect this was a godsend, because we had nothing to do with the feared legwork and the authorities’ chaos. Siroos got us a seat in the air-conditioned office and customs and he got started... He knew very well of needed copies, he paid all fees in advance, only now and then we had to change the building to sign some forms personally. During our external appointments the hot and humid sweltering heat of almost +40°C / 104° Fahrenheit got on us and heated up our DeLoreans like an oven.

But after about five hours everything was done, the cars were allowed to board and were placed on the first deck via elevator. Apart from us there was only an SUV from the Emirates later.

Siroos invited us for lunch and supervised our boarding and check in at 7:00pm , so he really had earned his money!

Our ferry was scheduled to depart at 9:00pm in the evening, but the loading of trucks delayed this, because the trucks booked their ferry ride, but they simply arrived too late at the harbor. Finally, it was 1:45am Cast off!

Because the ferry was not fully booked, every passenger had a row of three seats for themselves, so we could spend the night with more or less sleep.

At 10:00am we saw the first fishing boats and trawlers at sea and it was about 11:00am as land was in sight for the first time.

It took about an hour until the ferry docked at the port of Sharjah and unloading began.

At first we had to wait another hour for the first two trucks to leave the ferry. After that our Deloreans should be lifted to the lower deck again, but suddenly there was the 'supreme commander' of customs officers: "First go to Immigration, then get car!“ OK, then we got on the bus with the other passengers to the Immigration Office, there was all haywire with only one immigration counter (for approximately 100 passengers!). Everyone tried to hand over his papers as first to the official until a police officer showed up and ordered in loud Arabic language all back to the chairs in the waiting area. But we made clear to him that we still had to pick up our cars from the ferry and at once we were the first in the queue - lucky. Again our patience was pushed hard to the limit, because just as we waited for the visa stamp, the computer of the visa officer struck. After several minutes, frantic mouse clicks and some excited phone calls the computer worked suddenly again and we got the coveted stamp in the passport. But this should be only the beginning...

Back on the ship, we were finally able to drive the Deloreans off board and thus we were immediately at the cabin of the Shipping Agent. He made the first felt 100 copies of any document, we paid 420 dirhams charges and received a docket with 5 positions and we had to work them off. First we went to harbor authority for stamp 1, then to customs authority for checking the serial numbers of the cars and to get a document in duplicate. Then to the harbor authority again, counter in the left corridor for submission of all documents obtained to fill in the Carnet for the Deloreans (around 20 copies per vehicle ...) and pay 80 dirhams fee. Then to the counter in the right hallway, again to submit all documents and we are waiting approximately 20 minutes for a final certificate in triplicate. So finally back to the ferry port, cabin 'Yard 6', there finally after 15 copies and signatures we got the main gate pass. With this we finally were able to leave the port and were allowed to travel to the UAE.

We reached our booked hotel 'Alhamra Sharjah' after another 15 minutes through the rush hour.
Finally we have achieved to "leave Iran and entry UAE".

Translation by DWT-Translation-Team

Day 14

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Created on Sunday, 20 September 2015 22:31

09/18/2015 Bandar Abbas (Iran)

Today - after 13 days on the road was the first day the Delorean were not moved. After a breakfast at the hotel Atilar we took a taxi and let us drive to the harbour where we are going to take the ferry boat over to Dubai tomorrow evening. Nobody could really tell us where we will have to check in tomorrow because we cant speak Farsi and the Iranians cant speak English. But they gave us the address of the shipping-office which was 1.5 miles away. Our taxi driver drove us there and at the office there was somebody who could speak English. Luckily there were some offices in business as there was an Iranian holyday (Friday) today. At least were now knowing that we have to pay the passage of our cars tomorrow morning and that we can leave Iran at the harbour and can check in the ferry. Still, it will be a long day tomorrow because the procedure of leaving Iran shall be unnerving according to some reports.

In the afternoon we had a walk around to the sea front which seemed quite empty comparing to yesterday due to todays holiday.

There were some new car manufacturers to discover.

Klaus visited the hair dresser and Andre improved his fitness

After an hour we were soaking wet of sweat and fled back to the air-conditioned hotel. Today we had 37 degrees Celsius (99 Fahrenheit) under steamy conditions.
Tomorrow evening we will be travelling to Dubai. Thus our travel blog will continue on Sunday.

Translation by DWT-Translation-Team

Day 13

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Created on Friday, 18 September 2015 20:19

09/17/2015 Shiraz - Bandar Abbas (Iran)

Done ! On the 13th day of  our Delorean World Tour we arrived in Bandar Abbas on the persian gulf  by crossing the Iran von north to south in five days.
Because we had a long distance about 372 miles miles to go, we decide to launch early at half past eight. Today even the landscape topped everything we previously have seen. Amazing rock and mountain formations lined left and right the street, towns in basin enclosed by high mountains and steep mountains passes with diesel smoking trucks on the right lane, which were overtaken us on the downhill drive  with  more than 60 mph. Road markings and speed limits here are only seen as an recommendation, nobody will follow it (of course we always do…..).

On the roadside in the villages were offer  fruits , vegetables and also living goods.

It will also be warned of different kind of animals.

Shortly after 4 pm we reached  the port Bandar Abbas , from which we will take the ferry on saturday to Dubai. The first view  trough the hotel window and you see the ocean – that´s a great feeling.

In the evening we explored the nearby city with uncounted shops and stalls. Here life is pulsing, the traffic is like in all other big towns , chaotic.   Result: In the Iran we had never the feeling to be in an underdeveloped  country. It was the opposite, our journey has shown  a totally different, very modern and friendly picture of the Iran to us.

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Day 12

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Created on Friday, 18 September 2015 19:57

09/16/2015 Isfahan - Shiraz (Iran)

About the last routes through Iran we thought that there will be no improvement, we were disabused today. The scenery on the way to Shiraz was just breathtaking, steep hillsides and flat lowlands alternating till we drove through pass roads up to 7500 feet above sea level.

There the countless trucks labored panting their way and they thrust out thick black clouds of diesel.

In the towns there were marveling colorful shops and stores, many mosques lined the street.

After another refueling stop (again nearly a million gone ...)

we reached Shiraz and found our hotel right away.

Today our Deloreans got again a service and technical examination. Conclusion so far: Except for a few little things which were quickly eliminated, no technical problems.

After that we made a cultural program (also have to be sometimes) and explored the Jahan Nama Garden directly across from the hotel.

Our present hotel accommodation in Bandar Abbas and the ferry tickets for the crossing to Dubai we booked through the Iranian travel agency http://www.irun2iran.com/ based in Shiraz. The owner Laleh Sadr visited us at the hotel and brought over all the documents personally. We recommend a lot this absolutely nice contact for correct billing and for all other Iran travel!

Translation by DWT-Translation-Team