I went to CCL today only to find out that the receptionist who had told an official at the PTJ had erred. There was no ship leaving for Cartagena from Colon with CCL on Thursday. Next one was on the 20th of July, and that would take 5 days. So I told Ms. Yocanda Smith thanks, but I will have to go to go Seaboard Marine.
But I’m glad I talked to Ms. Smith first. Because she was the only one that told me to get the exit paperwork from Panama City. Even the one at Seaboard didn’t tell me that, and I had to ask her about it. So after I set my trip for the next ship, leaving on Friday, I left for Panama City.
The lady at PTJ recognized me immediately and told me I have one more place to go to: back to the Aduana for one more documentation.
I go there and the only lady working has no idea what she’s doing. She tells me I need 5 more documentations and that that place would actually be the last stop. She almost sends me to a totally different place when she stops me and tells me to wait while she calls another person. Turns out all I need is an exit paper, nothing more.
But I just found out through online research that I need the passport stamped out as well. That and I need to wait to have some sort of a document called Bill of Lading in my hand at Colombia to pick up my car from the container. Which is a problem because apparently, they only give that out when the ship leaves the port, and my flight for Cartagena leaves on the same day.
Coupled with that and the fact that Seaboard doesn’t take credit cards, I need to somehow withdraw about $1100 from the ATM. I don’t want to do it too soon because I don’t trust the city of Colon.