I was ready in the morning and waited outside the door of the immigration for them to confirm to me what I had inquired in the internet and, and it was true; six documents. I learned as well that there was actually a Brazilian traffic department in Pacaraima and the needed authorization document was a daily routine to them and after handing my papers it was issued within 15 minutes. I crossed the border; I do not know if illegal or legal and started to look for an insurance company in Santa Elena de Uarien, Venezuela. Mapfre was right in the center and insurance for Brazilian cars was daily routine to them as well. I needed copies of every document and became quickly familiar with the cheap prices of lots of things here in Venezuela. I made ten copies of everything just in case and went back to the insurance company and after paying the insurance for the whole year of 20 Euros I had my insurance and the document that was needed for immigration.

I drove back to Brazil and had to do the whole procedure now the official way, starting with the federal police in Pacaraima to get my stamp of legally leaving Brazil. Then I had to go the border and to immigration to first get the legal stamp for me as a person to enter Venezuela. Now I was legal and had to try the same for my friend. I went to a different immigration department and left the documents with the attendant. Number six was my concern as it stated the owners authorization needed to be authenticated. My friend was in the name of the company and I was the administrator, which means I would have to authorize to myself. This was not really the problem except I could not authenticate. The notary was back in Boa Vista. I gave it a shot and handed only five documents, hoping the attendant would not realize that the car was in the name of a company but in mine. It worked and I was lucky one more time. I had the authorization and could now travel with my friend for the next 90 days in Venezuela.

I wanted to spend the night in Santa Elena de Uairen. I wanted to understand the situation of filling the car with gas and went to the gas station. At the only gas station in town about 150 cars were queuing up. Due to the close distance to Brazil the gas station was not for foreigners. I took some pictures of the queue and immediately a military official asked to hand over the camera and why I would be taking pictures of the queue. I have been in various countries and never seen 150 cars queuing up. You should have seen the collection of old 70’s and 80’s American 7 seater Cadillac’s, Ford’s and Chevrolet’s, 20 liters per 100 km.

The sergeant was a correct socialist and wanted to clarify this with his superior and we had to drive to the military base. I had deleted the pictures in question, three, already and the superior asked the sergeant to take me back and let me go. For a moment I was worried about the camera though. Might they find a reason to withhold the camera? You never know, luckily not this time, still I was fed up with the city and decided to leave and make it to the next gas station before anybody changed mind.

The drive into the night through the Gran Sabana was spectacular, not only the mountain Roraima but the whole nature. I drove into the night with some clouds and arrived at the gas station with a little bit of rain. I parked in front of a hotel / restaurant and was ready for sleep.

Please click on “View Album” to see pictures in a Google+ Album.

For a small understanding of the days travel, I have included a Google Earth map. The red pins mark the locations I have stopped and taken pictures. At the bottom of the page you will find a link for all the pictures I have taken. The link will open in a Google+ Album.

Please click on map to enlarge!!!

See map and distances / Siehe Karte und Entfernungen / Ver mapa e distâncias / Ver mapa y distancias

0 km                     Pacaraima

75 km                   Parque Nacional Canaima

155 km                 Kamoiran

Please click on “View Album” to see pictures in a Google+ Album.