The Story of James E. Bennett, Jr.
in his own words
Chapter 9
Driving out of Saudi Arabia - March 24, 1985 to July, 1985
Driving out of Saudi Arabia - March 24, 1985 to July, 1985
March 24 and March 25, 1985 - Ras Tanura
Sunday and Monday were spent in packing the 1976 4 door Volvo. The car was completely packed with the trunk and back seat full. I covered the back window and the two side windows with the type of plastic to prevent people from seeing what was on the back seat when they looked into the windows. We packed candy bars and other miscellaneous items to eat that did not require cooking. We had a small ice chest packed with fruit and other items. We also carried fuel as we did not know the availability of the gas supply. One of our biggest problems was the lack of good maps for the way we were driving. Several people that drove in from an assignment in Europe gave us some hand written notes about places to stop, but most of the information was several years old.
Sunday and Monday were spent in packing the 1976 4 door Volvo. The car was completely packed with the trunk and back seat full. I covered the back window and the two side windows with the type of plastic to prevent people from seeing what was on the back seat when they looked into the windows. We packed candy bars and other miscellaneous items to eat that did not require cooking. We had a small ice chest packed with fruit and other items. We also carried fuel as we did not know the availability of the gas supply. One of our biggest problems was the lack of good maps for the way we were driving. Several people that drove in from an assignment in Europe gave us some hand written notes about places to stop, but most of the information was several years old.
In general driving in or out of Saudi had pretty well stopped in 1979. There were three ways to drive out of Saudi. One was to drive to the Red Sea coast and take a ferry to Egypt or drive to either Jordan or Kuwait. The second way was to drive to Kuwait, but then you would have to drive across Iran or Iraq which are closed to Americans. The third way was to drive out through Jordan. We decided to drive through Jordan, and spend some time in Ammon, Petra and Damascus.
March 26, 1985 Tuesday - Ras Tanura to Turayf, Saudi Arabia
We left Ras Tanura at 05:15, with a full tank of gas and two 10 liter cans of gas. Took the old road to Dhahran and turned off on the Juaymah-Al Jubail cross road. From the cross road turned on the Dammam-Al Jubail highway went to the end and then took the Al Jubail-Abu Hadriya cross road. We turned on the Dammam Abu Hadriya and stayed on that road until we reached Abu Hadriya. In Abu Hadriya we picked up the tap line road. The paved road ran out about 1000 meters from the village of Nariya. There were three trails in sand leading from the end of the paved road to another section of the paved tap line road. I selected the middle trail and we high centered in sand about half way to the paved road. A driver of a large truck stopped, and using chains that I had, hooked onto our car and pulled the car forward about 200 meters. We unhooked on a level area of sand and Kathryn drove the car onto the paved road. It was the only time Kathryn drove a car outside the Aramco camp (I imagine Mom insisted at this point, even though it was illegal for women to drive in Saudi Arabia at this time - ed.).
We left Ras Tanura at 05:15, with a full tank of gas and two 10 liter cans of gas. Took the old road to Dhahran and turned off on the Juaymah-Al Jubail cross road. From the cross road turned on the Dammam-Al Jubail highway went to the end and then took the Al Jubail-Abu Hadriya cross road. We turned on the Dammam Abu Hadriya and stayed on that road until we reached Abu Hadriya. In Abu Hadriya we picked up the tap line road. The paved road ran out about 1000 meters from the village of Nariya. There were three trails in sand leading from the end of the paved road to another section of the paved tap line road. I selected the middle trail and we high centered in sand about half way to the paved road. A driver of a large truck stopped, and using chains that I had, hooked onto our car and pulled the car forward about 200 meters. We unhooked on a level area of sand and Kathryn drove the car onto the paved road. It was the only time Kathryn drove a car outside the Aramco camp (I imagine Mom insisted at this point, even though it was illegal for women to drive in Saudi Arabia at this time - ed.).
We stopped in the village and had hot tea. Basically the tap line road is a paved two lane road with some areas of pot holes, so one had to drive the center of the road and pull over as required. The area with the worst pot holes was around 30 miles all together. Mostly trucks used the road and we had very little traffic. The air conditioner kept the car from getting too hot. We had no problems obtaining gas for the car. The price of gas in Saudi Arabia was $0.42 per gallon. We stopped at Al Uwayqilah for tea. I was surprised at the number and sizes of the villages along the tap line road. We saw lots of black tents of the Bedoin tribes. We went through several government check points. The Jubail Port Authority pass worked better than my driver's license. After the first stop, I would hand the guard my port pass on top of my driving license, and most of the time, we would be waved through. We arrived in the village of Turayf at 21:30 (16.5 hours later), the end of the tap road. With tea stops, gas stops and getting stuck we averaged 45.6 miles per hour for a total of 753 miles.
We were unable to find the Aramco Guest House, so I found a large parking lot and we spent the night in the car. We had pieces of chickens for dinner that Kathryn had packed for the trip. Several times during the night we were awakened by someone flashing a light in the car, just checking us out.
March 27, 1985 Wednesday - Turayf, S.A. to Amman, Jordan
We left the parking area around 06:00 and stopped for tea right outside of Turayf. Took several side trips on the way to the border but did not get out of the car. We stopped at Kat and took some pictures. It was around 09:30 when we reached the border between Saudi Arabia and Jordan. The Saudi authority would not allow us too clear the border as I did not have a police clearance. The border police wanted me to drive back to Ras Tanura to collect the police clearance papers. I pointed out that our Saudi exit visa required that Kathryn and I to leave Saudi Arabia that day, and we didn't have time to drive back to Ras Tanura, get a clearance and return to the border in time to clear the border that day. I was then told that I could get a clearance at the police station in Qurayyat Al Milh.
We left the parking area around 06:00 and stopped for tea right outside of Turayf. Took several side trips on the way to the border but did not get out of the car. We stopped at Kat and took some pictures. It was around 09:30 when we reached the border between Saudi Arabia and Jordan. The Saudi authority would not allow us too clear the border as I did not have a police clearance. The border police wanted me to drive back to Ras Tanura to collect the police clearance papers. I pointed out that our Saudi exit visa required that Kathryn and I to leave Saudi Arabia that day, and we didn't have time to drive back to Ras Tanura, get a clearance and return to the border in time to clear the border that day. I was then told that I could get a clearance at the police station in Qurayyat Al Milh.
I had a map of Saudi Arabia and that name did not show on the map. I showed them the map but I don't think that they could read a map. The town they were talking about wasn't on the map and I had to follow very general directions. The English speaking ability at the border was not too good but from what I could understand it appeared that the town was around 10 km back down the road and around 15 km west. That was about all the directions that I got. We finally found the town and it turned out to be a rather large town. The directions on how to find the police station were good. We got to the police station, but inside I was told that I didn't need an exit visa. We got that point cleared up and then I was told to see the Chief of Police. He was not in but would be back around 11:00.
We left and drove around town and found a place to eat. I wasn't sure that they would serve us because Kathryn was with me. The place was clean. We went back at 11:00 to see the Chief and was told to wait. We were taken to an area where Kathryn and I set down to wait. Suddenly they realized that Kathryn was in an area she shouldn't be in. She had to leave the building and waited for me in the car. The Chief saw me and assigned an aid to take me around. The aid and I went around to various desks and I finally got the clearance. The police were very nice and kept asking us to spend the night. I kept saying no that we had to leave. We got back to the border around 12:30. We had to hurry because the Jordan border closed at 14:00. It took us only 30 minutes to clear the Saudi Border. They kept the Saudi car plates and I put on an old Illinois tag (1977). I only had one tag.
At Jordan's border crossing, they would not allow us to cross into Jordan until I got a manifest with transit documents. I told the authority that we were going to Amman, Jordan and spend a week and then drive to Damascus and on to Turkey. I was sent to one of the many trading companies located at the border. I selected a trading and transport company to arrange for a manifest to allow us to transit the car through Jordan. I had to pay them 280 SR (Saudi Riyals - ed.) for the Manifest and a 100 SR to our expediter to get us cleared through customs. He did an excellent job. Once we had the papers we went to the actual crossing, and I had to unload the car. The border was about to close for the day so I had to quickly unload the car and spread everything out on the dirt for inspection. Suitcases were opened and after inspection it all had to be placed back in the car. We got the car across the border at 14:15 and then had to walk back to Jordan's border office to get a visa. They were closed for lunch and we had to wait around 30 minutes. They finally appeared and we got a 14 day visa and got back to the car around 15:10. A summary of the time required to clear the border is as follows:
Saudi side 3 hours and 30 minutes
Jordan side 2 hours and 5 minutes
Total mileage from Ras Tanura to the border was 975 miles.
Saudi side 3 hours and 30 minutes
Jordan side 2 hours and 5 minutes
Total mileage from Ras Tanura to the border was 975 miles.
We drove into Amman and arrived in what to me was rush hour traffic, but from our maps we could not find the hotel. The population of Amman is around 700,000 people. We asked several people for directions and weren't getting anywhere. The small map we had of Amman was not a bit of help. I finally stopped, flagged a cab and had him lead us to the Intercontinental Hotel. I had rolled down the window on the driver's side to ask direction, and as we drove toward the hotel the window would not roll up. A second problem developed as we were following the cab. The brakes became very spongy and braking was not very good. We got to the hotel around 16:30, and I had Kathryn go inside to check in while I stayed with the car. We had reservations and the room rate was $67.50 per night. It was not a good idea to leave the car loaded with a rolled down window. Luckily the parking lot for the hotel was large and I pulled the tools out and started working on the window. It took me over two hours to fix the car window. I attracted a lot of attention and I always had a group of Arabs watching me.
Harza had a job just outside of Amman and we had written Chuck Sebring that we were driving into Amman and would like to see them. We knew Chuck and his wife Sally from the Niagara Power Project. Chuck called the Hotel and Kathryn agreed to have dinner with them tomorrow night. We discovered that Jordan was one hour behind Saudi.
March 28, 1985 Thursday - Amman, Jordan
In the morning we went to the American Embassy, which was near by, to determine if there were any problems in driving through Syria. If there was a problem in traveling through Syria, we would then drive to the coast and catch a ferry from Jordan to Egypt. We were told that we should go to the Syrian Embassy and obtain a letter and a visa from them stating that we were visiting and driving through to Turkey. We went to the Syrian Embassy and got a visa and the required paperwork in order for us to spend a couple days in Damascus. They were very nice and assured us that we would not have a problem in driving in Syria. They gave us a 14 day visa.
In the morning we went to the American Embassy, which was near by, to determine if there were any problems in driving through Syria. If there was a problem in traveling through Syria, we would then drive to the coast and catch a ferry from Jordan to Egypt. We were told that we should go to the Syrian Embassy and obtain a letter and a visa from them stating that we were visiting and driving through to Turkey. We went to the Syrian Embassy and got a visa and the required paperwork in order for us to spend a couple days in Damascus. They were very nice and assured us that we would not have a problem in driving in Syria. They gave us a 14 day visa.
Cedric and Valerie, friends from Ras Tanura, arrived around noon. We had planned this trip to Jordan with them before I was released from Aramco. I rearranged the car from being unloaded and loaded twice from the border. I decided that the brakes were to soft to drive to Petra and we had to rent a vehicle, which we did. We invited them to dinner with Sally and Chuck. I spent the afternoon obtaining what they call a "green card" for the car insurance. The card was not available in Saudi. I took a cab to the insurance office and walked back to the hotel. We had dinner at the Marriott and afterward we went to Chuck and Sally's apartment to talk. We had a very nice time.
March 29, 1985 Friday - Amman to Petra, Jordan
We left Amman for the Dead Sea around 08:30. When we arrived at the dead sea resort area, we found the place was just opening up and there were not too many people. The resort was slightly dirty and run down. We continued on to Petra by the desert highway, arriving at Hotel Forum just outside of Petra around 17:00. Petra was a Nabatean capital and is about three hours' drive from Amman. The site is believed to have been inhabited as long as 12,000 years ago, but the city of Petra was built by the Nabateans from about 300 B.C. We had reservations and the room rate was $43.75 per night. We spent the rest of the day walking around the hotel grounds.
We left Amman for the Dead Sea around 08:30. When we arrived at the dead sea resort area, we found the place was just opening up and there were not too many people. The resort was slightly dirty and run down. We continued on to Petra by the desert highway, arriving at Hotel Forum just outside of Petra around 17:00. Petra was a Nabatean capital and is about three hours' drive from Amman. The site is believed to have been inhabited as long as 12,000 years ago, but the city of Petra was built by the Nabateans from about 300 B.C. We had reservations and the room rate was $43.75 per night. We spent the rest of the day walking around the hotel grounds.
March 30, 1985 Saturday - Petra, Jordan
We started our trip to Petra at 07:00 in the morning, walking into Petra rather then riding donkeys as most tourist do. Inside Petra I left Kathryn and climbed up to the high place where sacrifices were made and over the mountain to the Roman tombs. I met up with Kathryn later in the day. Kathryn was beginning to think she would never see me again! We walked up to the Monastery and we climbed up to the urn. Kathryn stayed at the base. Cedric and Valerie walked over the ridge and I stayed with Kathryn. We had lunch at the Forum inside Petra, and Kathryn and I started back to the hotel around 15:00. Cedric and Valerie decided to go onto the high place. We met back at the hotel and had dinner around 17:00.
We started our trip to Petra at 07:00 in the morning, walking into Petra rather then riding donkeys as most tourist do. Inside Petra I left Kathryn and climbed up to the high place where sacrifices were made and over the mountain to the Roman tombs. I met up with Kathryn later in the day. Kathryn was beginning to think she would never see me again! We walked up to the Monastery and we climbed up to the urn. Kathryn stayed at the base. Cedric and Valerie walked over the ridge and I stayed with Kathryn. We had lunch at the Forum inside Petra, and Kathryn and I started back to the hotel around 15:00. Cedric and Valerie decided to go onto the high place. We met back at the hotel and had dinner around 17:00.
March 31, 1985 Sunday - Petra to Amman, Jordan
Started back to Amman and saw the back side of Petra. We drove back to Ammon on the King's Highway. King's highway is one of the oldest roads in the world. It is an international trading and transit route that has been used without interruption for more than 5,000 years. The road winds through the western hills and plains of Jordan from Syria to Arabia. The name is derived from the Biblical verses in Genesis 14. We stopped for lunch at Kerak. After lunch we drove to a Crusader castle built in the 12th century on the remains of earlier citadels which date back to Nabatean times, which was just outside of Kerak, and went through the castle. We drove on to Madaba and saw a sixth century mosaic map of Jerusalem. We were going to Mount Nebo but it was getting too dark so we drove back to the hotel. Again we got lost trying to find the hotel, so I hired a cab and followed it back to the Amman Intercontinental Hotel.
Started back to Amman and saw the back side of Petra. We drove back to Ammon on the King's Highway. King's highway is one of the oldest roads in the world. It is an international trading and transit route that has been used without interruption for more than 5,000 years. The road winds through the western hills and plains of Jordan from Syria to Arabia. The name is derived from the Biblical verses in Genesis 14. We stopped for lunch at Kerak. After lunch we drove to a Crusader castle built in the 12th century on the remains of earlier citadels which date back to Nabatean times, which was just outside of Kerak, and went through the castle. We drove on to Madaba and saw a sixth century mosaic map of Jerusalem. We were going to Mount Nebo but it was getting too dark so we drove back to the hotel. Again we got lost trying to find the hotel, so I hired a cab and followed it back to the Amman Intercontinental Hotel.
April 1, 1985 Monday - Amman, Jordan
I had the hotel to draw up a map to the Volvo dealer to get the brakes fixed. I arrived at the place where the Volvo Dealer should have been, but they had moved. I stopped at a gas station and hired a cab to lead me to the Volvo Dealer. We located the Dealer and I put the car in the shop to fix the brakes. I waited at the dealer shop until they completed the repairs, and got back to the hotel around 14:00 without hiring a cab to lead me back. We decided to drive out to Jerash, (classified as probably the most beautifully preserved and restored Graeco-Roman provincial city in the world), but we never found Jerash (They made it to Jerash on Wednesday - ed.). The day was overcast and we drove back to the hotel. Cedric and Valerie left for the airport to fly back to Dhahran.
I had the hotel to draw up a map to the Volvo dealer to get the brakes fixed. I arrived at the place where the Volvo Dealer should have been, but they had moved. I stopped at a gas station and hired a cab to lead me to the Volvo Dealer. We located the Dealer and I put the car in the shop to fix the brakes. I waited at the dealer shop until they completed the repairs, and got back to the hotel around 14:00 without hiring a cab to lead me back. We decided to drive out to Jerash, (classified as probably the most beautifully preserved and restored Graeco-Roman provincial city in the world), but we never found Jerash (They made it to Jerash on Wednesday - ed.). The day was overcast and we drove back to the hotel. Cedric and Valerie left for the airport to fly back to Dhahran.
April 2, 1985 Tuesday - Amman, Jordan
We spent the day getting ready to leave the next morning. The weather, in general, has been overcast and not too hot.
We spent the day getting ready to leave the next morning. The weather, in general, has been overcast and not too hot.
April 3, 1985 Wednesday - Amman, Jordan
We went to the Yugoslavia Embassy and got our visa to cross Yugoslavia. We drove to Jerash and walked through the ruins. When we got back to the hotel, there were several telephone calls from the Trading Company that had issued our manifest. Apparently the trading company had given us only two days to cross the country. I told them that we were crossing the border into Syria the next morning. We called son Jim in California to report on our progress.
We went to the Yugoslavia Embassy and got our visa to cross Yugoslavia. We drove to Jerash and walked through the ruins. When we got back to the hotel, there were several telephone calls from the Trading Company that had issued our manifest. Apparently the trading company had given us only two days to cross the country. I told them that we were crossing the border into Syria the next morning. We called son Jim in California to report on our progress.
April 4, 1985 Thursday - Amman to Syria Border
We left Amman around 08:30, got gas which cost $1.73 per gallon and reached the Jordan-Syria border around 10:30. We drove 245 miles in Jordan. The trading and transit company that I went to on the Saudi Arabia-Jordan border had an office on the Jordan-Syria border. They were very happy to see me, as well as being very upset with us for staying beyond the two days. The border police were about to place people in the transit company in jail until I cleared the border. I had to pay a fine and all together it cost us $142.50 to clear the Jordan-Syria border. I was told that 25.00 Jordan dollars would be refunded once I crossed the border. We cleared the Jordan side by 11:30. I crossed the border and drove through the border zone (about 0.5 miles) to the Syrian border.
We left Amman around 08:30, got gas which cost $1.73 per gallon and reached the Jordan-Syria border around 10:30. We drove 245 miles in Jordan. The trading and transit company that I went to on the Saudi Arabia-Jordan border had an office on the Jordan-Syria border. They were very happy to see me, as well as being very upset with us for staying beyond the two days. The border police were about to place people in the transit company in jail until I cleared the border. I had to pay a fine and all together it cost us $142.50 to clear the Jordan-Syria border. I was told that 25.00 Jordan dollars would be refunded once I crossed the border. We cleared the Jordan side by 11:30. I crossed the border and drove through the border zone (about 0.5 miles) to the Syrian border.
I was given the name of a person on the Syria crossing that would refund the 25 Jordan dollars, or I could walk back to the border crossing and get the refund. At the Syria crossing I couldn't find the person, and I was not about to walk back. It wasn't worth going back and being separated from the car and Kathryn. I had to go to another trading and transit company to get the transit papers that would allow us to transit the car through Syria. I was told that I could only transit through Syria and could not stop off at Damascus, despite a visa and hotel reservations. We really wanted to go to Damascus and had made hotel reservations at the Damascus Sheraton.
The police told us that we could leave the car at the crossing and take a taxi to Damascus. We decided that we better stay at the border with the car. We needed local money to get each passport stamped. The various charges to cross Syria were $319.65. That included the manifest, insurance (despite having a green insurance card), convoy charges, and a travel guarantee. They all wanted payment in local currency and would not accept either Saudi or Jordan money. The Currency exchange bank only wanted US Dollars and the exchange rate for U.S. dollars was not good. The exchange rate at the Jordan-Syria border was normally $8.25 per Syrian Pound (SP), but they had a business rate of $3.57 per SP which the exchange bank wanted. Kathryn got in line to exchange money and after a long conversation with them, she was able to get them to exchange Saudi money for local money, which we needed to pay for the right to transit Syria.
After payment we were allow to proceed to the crossing where the customs authority stamped our passports and kept them. They said that our passports would be returned to us at the Syria-Turkey border. They had me to completely unload the car and spread everything out in the dirt by the car in order for inspection and nothing could be stacked. All suitcases were opened. We finally got everything inspected and again loaded back in the car. I was told to park the car in a certain area and wait for the convoy which was to start at 01:30 in the morning, almost 12 hours later. There was no place to eat, but we were able to fill the car with gas. The cost of gas was $1.02 per gallon in Syria.
We had some interesting conversations with other people waiting for the convey as we sat around and waited. We still had candy and other snack food in the car to eat, and we shared with our fellow travelers. Several cars and/or pickup trucks were on the way to Beirut. Several groups suggested that we go to Beirut with them. It was very hot and we had to stay around the car. We still didn't have our passports. We tried to get some sleep.
April 5, 1985 Friday - Syria Border to Adana, Turkey
Around 01:30 a man came around and demanded money. He did not know English and we were getting nowhere as I tried to find out what the money was for or what it would buy me. He got pretty mad and left only to return with a solder and told me in no uncertain terms that the soldier was going to ride in the back seat. I pointed out that there was no room, however the soldier opened the back door and moved things around until he had a space to sit with his rifle. He could not speak English. We were ordered to leave around 02:00, ahead of the convoy. The soldier started to smoke, but I was able to convince him that he could not smoke.
Around 01:30 a man came around and demanded money. He did not know English and we were getting nowhere as I tried to find out what the money was for or what it would buy me. He got pretty mad and left only to return with a solder and told me in no uncertain terms that the soldier was going to ride in the back seat. I pointed out that there was no room, however the soldier opened the back door and moved things around until he had a space to sit with his rifle. He could not speak English. We were ordered to leave around 02:00, ahead of the convoy. The soldier started to smoke, but I was able to convince him that he could not smoke.
At the first road block, I started to slow down when the soldier got excited and by gestures he said to speedup. We drove through that road block and all others. We stopped one time and had tea. We did see the outskirts of Damascus, in the early hours of the morning. We never saw the convoy and we arrived at Homs around 05:00 where I was told to stop and wait near a small police or a customs office. The soldier left the car and went in the small building. We tried to get some sleep in the car and around 07:30 I noticed that a patrol car arrived at the station and soon left with our soldier. I walked over to the office and saw our passports on a desk. I tried to talk with the officers but they knew very little English. By using my hands and a few words I was able to get them to give us our passport. I also found out that the next convoy to leave for Turkey was sometime on Saturday.
After a lot of gestures I was told that for 500 Syrian pounds we could start for Turkey right away. I went back to the car and since we didn't have 500 SP, I put a U.S. $50.00 bill in each pocket and went back to talk with them. In talking with the officers I pulled out a $50.00 bill and laid it on the table and pointed to my watch and then to the road and said go! We got in the car with one of the uniformed men, and we left around 08:30. We stopped for gas and found a place to eat. The officer would not let me pay for the tea and food. We arrived at the border at 11:45. The officer pointed out where we were to go and he left.
I turned in all the travel papers and was told that they would be stamped on the Turkey side and I would get a refund of some of the convoy cost. We cleared the Syria border at 12:30 and drove about 5 km or so over a very bad road to the Turkey customs border office. Kathryn exchanged what Syrian pounds we had to Turkey lire. We finally located the trading and transit office and turned in the travel papers to clear customs. We cleared customs at 13:30. To get the refund, it was the same old story, I was told to go back to the Syrian border with the stamped papers, but no way was I going to return to Syria. We drove 261 miles in Syria. Actually all the people we talked with or had to work with were extremely nice, with an exception of one person, and they all expressed interest in us and wanted to travel to the States. There were no questions or problems in entering Turkey. We had a time change as we drove toward Adana, Turkey. We drove through a small mountain range and could see snow on the tops of the mountains.
We arrived in Adana around 16:00 and checked into a road side motel on the edge of Adana. The population of Adana is around 600,000 and is the commercial center of a farm region located on the Seyham River. We checked into the Rasnit Ener Motel. The room was clean and of reasonable size. The room rate was $15.45 per night, however the motel would not take a credit card, so we had to go into the city to exchange money. We went into several banks and they would not cash traveler's checks. As we were walking down a street, I saw a Pan Am sign and called it to Kathryn's attention. A man in front of us turned around and walked back toward us and asked if we were looking for the Pan Am office. I said that we were really looking for a place to cash traveler's checks because we didn't have any local money as we just drove in from Syria.
The gentleman turned out to be the general manager of the Pan Am's office and he took us up to his office and exchanged a $100 travel check for local money, gave us a map of the area, and some tourist information. Since tomorrow was Saturday and the banks would be closed for the weekend, we were fortunate to have met him as we had no money for the weekend. When we cashed in some traveler's checks on Monday, we found out that he gave us an excellent exchange rate. From the ARAMCO people that had traveled in Turkey, we had been constantly warned about local people breaking into the vehicles when left alone for even a few minutes, dishonesty in dealing with foreigners, and also getting run off the roads.
April 6, 1985 Saturday - Rasnit Ener Motel, Adana, Turkey
We went downtown in the morning and walked around. The tourist office was closed for the weekend. We went to the motel and rested. It was good to be in a place where we could rest for a few days. We made a check on how our money was holding outside of the credit card charges. Since leaving Ras Tanura we had spent $835.00
We went downtown in the morning and walked around. The tourist office was closed for the weekend. We went to the motel and rested. It was good to be in a place where we could rest for a few days. We made a check on how our money was holding outside of the credit card charges. Since leaving Ras Tanura we had spent $835.00
April 7, 1985 Sunday - Rasnit Ener Motel, Adana, Turkey
We drove back toward Syria, passing through Iskenderun, to visit Antioch where Paul preached for the first time and founded a Christian community. We found the Grotto of St. Peter, but the area was closed. We walked around the area. Antioch, in Paul's time was the third largest city of the Roman Empire, outranked only by Rome and Alexandria. We spent most of the day in the area and had lunch at a roadside restaurant (chicken steak) that was very good. The bread was excellent.
We drove back toward Syria, passing through Iskenderun, to visit Antioch where Paul preached for the first time and founded a Christian community. We found the Grotto of St. Peter, but the area was closed. We walked around the area. Antioch, in Paul's time was the third largest city of the Roman Empire, outranked only by Rome and Alexandria. We spent most of the day in the area and had lunch at a roadside restaurant (chicken steak) that was very good. The bread was excellent.
April 8, 1985 Monday - Rasnit Ener Motel, Adana, Turkey
The first thing we did after breakfast was to go downtown to cash traveler's checks. Several banks refused to cash our traveler's checks and would direct us to another bank. We finally found one that would cash them. After I signed the checks, I was directed to go to the Central Bank. The Bank did send a porter along with us to lead us to the Central Bank. While we were in the bank a large plate glass window broke. It made a loud noise and I wasn't sure if the window broke or was shot out. It took over two hours to finally get local money.
The first thing we did after breakfast was to go downtown to cash traveler's checks. Several banks refused to cash our traveler's checks and would direct us to another bank. We finally found one that would cash them. After I signed the checks, I was directed to go to the Central Bank. The Bank did send a porter along with us to lead us to the Central Bank. While we were in the bank a large plate glass window broke. It made a loud noise and I wasn't sure if the window broke or was shot out. It took over two hours to finally get local money.
We left Adana and went sightseeing along the coast to Tarsus. Tarsus is the birthplace of Paul and also where Antony summoned Cleopatra in 41 B.C. We found Cleopatra's Gate and bridge where they crossed over. We also found St. Peter's well. It required traveling over a lot of back streets. It was not well marked. We drove about 10 miles beyond Mersin, along the coast and stopped for dinner at a restaurant by the Mediterranean Sea. We had an excellent dinner. The cost in Turkey along the west side of the Mediterranean Sea has been very low. A fresh fish dinner we had only cost $8.00 (U.S.) and that was our highest priced meal and most of the time we paid were around $3 to $4.00. The food has been very good in Turkey. The weather for the last four days was overcast with occasional showers, requiring a light jacket or coat. We drove back to our motel to get ready to leave the next day.
April 9, 1985 Tuesday - Adana to Bolu, Turkey
We left the motel around 06:40. The road was fairly good with lots of trucks. We were travelling in a northeasterly direction cutting across the middle of Turkey passing through a farming range. The scenery was excellent, lots of trees and greenery in sharp contrast to the desert region where we been for almost 8 years. We had to pay a toll for part of the road (200 Turkey lire). The road was two lanes with a passing lane, however all lanes had many pot holes. The truck traffic in both direction was very heavy.
We left the motel around 06:40. The road was fairly good with lots of trucks. We were travelling in a northeasterly direction cutting across the middle of Turkey passing through a farming range. The scenery was excellent, lots of trees and greenery in sharp contrast to the desert region where we been for almost 8 years. We had to pay a toll for part of the road (200 Turkey lire). The road was two lanes with a passing lane, however all lanes had many pot holes. The truck traffic in both direction was very heavy.
At one time I was trapped in my lane and could not pass, due to oncoming lanes of traffic, when I saw a large section of bricks and mortar, that must have fallen off a truck, ahead of me. There was no shoulder and the only thing I could do was to break hard but I still hit the bricks and mortar section. It really made a large noise when I hit it. The motor kept running and I stopped as soon as I could to see the damage. We were very lucky as the section only ripped out the entire muffler system missing the fuel line, transmission system, brake system and the tires. The car really made a racket without the muffler system.
After Ankara we drove north to Bolu in the mountains. The road got much worse and was only two lanes. The road had small or no shoulders and lots of big pot holes. A new road was under construction. Near the town of Gerede we had to wait for about 45 minutes while the workers cleared a rock slide. We were behind a long line of trucks. Most of the drivers were very friendly and gave us a lot of suggestions as to how to drive into Europe. We were parked by a small river, while we waited and it was very pretty. The slide finally was cleared and we started back driving.
Several times we got run off the road by oncoming trucks passing other trucks, crossing the solid line coming into our lane. The drop off from the road was steep with very little room to do any dodging of the oncoming traffic. At places it was very dangerous. The trucks would only yield to a larger truck. I was very happy and extremely thankful when we reach Bolu.
Bolu is in the mountain area and is a ski resort in the winter. We had been told about the area from people that had lived in Europe. We drove into the city looking for the Hotel, and finally found it on the outskirts of Bolu. We checked into the Hotel Oteli (Koru Oteli) and the room rate was $21.85 per day. The room was very nice and the grounds around the lodge were well kept. The lodge was not half full because it wasn't the skiing season. We had an excellent dinner that night. After dinner I looked over the green card insurance policy, and I believe I can get reimbursed for the repairs to the muffler system. Our route from Adana to Bolu took us through Pozanti, Taspinar, Sereflikochisar, Ankara, Kazan, Yenicaga to Bolu
April 10, 1985 Wednesday - Bolu, Turkey
It was such a nice area that we decided to spend an extra day. Breakfast was excellent. We drove in town and found a map of Istanbul. Friends that had driven in Turkey told us that Hotel Washington in Istanbul was a good place to stay, especially if you had anything in the car, as they had a locked car park. Before leaving Ras Tanura, we were told that as long as we were in Turkey it was impossible to leave anything in the car or in a hotel room without it being stolen. I called Hotel Washington and they were booked solid and told us that most all of the hotels in Istanbul were sold out until Monday. Since we had visited Istanbul before and Kathryn wanted to move on, so we decided to drive through Istanbul and spent Thursday night in Greece. We drove around the area and had a picnic about 12 KM off the main road. Snow was all around us, so I threw a snowball at Kathryn. There appeared to be some pretty deep snows on the tops of the mountains. We were at around 3500 m elevation. Spring has not arrived but some of the ground flowers have started blooming. The trees are still bare. We had a restful day and did some washing in preparation for leaving tomorrow.
It was such a nice area that we decided to spend an extra day. Breakfast was excellent. We drove in town and found a map of Istanbul. Friends that had driven in Turkey told us that Hotel Washington in Istanbul was a good place to stay, especially if you had anything in the car, as they had a locked car park. Before leaving Ras Tanura, we were told that as long as we were in Turkey it was impossible to leave anything in the car or in a hotel room without it being stolen. I called Hotel Washington and they were booked solid and told us that most all of the hotels in Istanbul were sold out until Monday. Since we had visited Istanbul before and Kathryn wanted to move on, so we decided to drive through Istanbul and spent Thursday night in Greece. We drove around the area and had a picnic about 12 KM off the main road. Snow was all around us, so I threw a snowball at Kathryn. There appeared to be some pretty deep snows on the tops of the mountains. We were at around 3500 m elevation. Spring has not arrived but some of the ground flowers have started blooming. The trees are still bare. We had a restful day and did some washing in preparation for leaving tomorrow.
April 11, 1985 Thursday - Bolu to Kavalla, Greece
We checked out and had to drive over two passes at around elevation 5000 m on the way to Istanbul. The road was much better as we approached Istanbul, and at one point we were on a toll road. Great scenery on the way especially around the Sea of Marmara. In fact the houses in this area were the first decent houses we had seen in Turkey. The border crossing into Greece took less than an hour. We drove 1,379 miles in Turkey. The cost of the gas was $1.76 per gallon. Time advanced one hour ahead when we crossed into Greece. We couldn't find an exchange bank at the border. We drove into Kavalla, Greece and checked into Hotel Lucy around 17:30. The Hotel was on the beach and the room rate was $17.85. The hotel had seen its best days.
We checked out and had to drive over two passes at around elevation 5000 m on the way to Istanbul. The road was much better as we approached Istanbul, and at one point we were on a toll road. Great scenery on the way especially around the Sea of Marmara. In fact the houses in this area were the first decent houses we had seen in Turkey. The border crossing into Greece took less than an hour. We drove 1,379 miles in Turkey. The cost of the gas was $1.76 per gallon. Time advanced one hour ahead when we crossed into Greece. We couldn't find an exchange bank at the border. We drove into Kavalla, Greece and checked into Hotel Lucy around 17:30. The Hotel was on the beach and the room rate was $17.85. The hotel had seen its best days.
April 12, 1985 Friday - Kavalla, Greece
We cashed in a $50.00 traveler's check at the hotel. We went into the center of Kavalla, but all the banks and the Government offices were closed for their Easter holiday. Spent some time walking around the town and also at the beach.
We cashed in a $50.00 traveler's check at the hotel. We went into the center of Kavalla, but all the banks and the Government offices were closed for their Easter holiday. Spent some time walking around the town and also at the beach.
April 13, 1985 Saturday - Kavalla, Greece
A rainy day. We went back to the center of the town but all the banks and tourist office were still closed. We finally found out that they would be closed until Tuesday. We tried to call Yugoslavia to get hotel reservations but had no luck. We called Wayne in Naperville and found out that our air shipment was in customs. We then drove to Philippi, but the area was closed off. We were able to see a fair amount from the road. We talked about driving to Athens but decided not to and to go on toward Venezia the next day.
A rainy day. We went back to the center of the town but all the banks and tourist office were still closed. We finally found out that they would be closed until Tuesday. We tried to call Yugoslavia to get hotel reservations but had no luck. We called Wayne in Naperville and found out that our air shipment was in customs. We then drove to Philippi, but the area was closed off. We were able to see a fair amount from the road. We talked about driving to Athens but decided not to and to go on toward Venezia the next day.
April 14, 1985 Sunday - Kavalla to Predejane, Yugoslavia
We left Hotel Lucy after breakfast around 07:30. The sun is out and it looks like we will have a beautiful day. We arrived at the Yugoslavia border around 10:25. We drove 322 miles in Greece and the cost of gas was $1.86 per gallon. We crossed the border in about 15 minutes and stopped at the duty free store and purchased some sweets. We had to drive about five more minutes to get to the Yugoslavia border and we cleared it in about five minutes. They didn't look at anything. We stopped in the parking lot to get money and gas coupons. I had to walk back to the duty free shop to get change for the large bills. The weather turned cold and Kathryn didn't want to drive to the coast through the mountains, so we decided to drive on to Belgrade.
We left Hotel Lucy after breakfast around 07:30. The sun is out and it looks like we will have a beautiful day. We arrived at the Yugoslavia border around 10:25. We drove 322 miles in Greece and the cost of gas was $1.86 per gallon. We crossed the border in about 15 minutes and stopped at the duty free store and purchased some sweets. We had to drive about five more minutes to get to the Yugoslavia border and we cleared it in about five minutes. They didn't look at anything. We stopped in the parking lot to get money and gas coupons. I had to walk back to the duty free shop to get change for the large bills. The weather turned cold and Kathryn didn't want to drive to the coast through the mountains, so we decided to drive on to Belgrade.
We stopped early, around 15:00, at a nice looking road side hotel at Predejane (now Predejane, Serbia - ed.). The road was fair, however very rough in sections. The best news was there were no trucks on the road and we were pretty much by ourselves. The room was clean and the rate was $8.25 (U.S.) per day which included breakfast. After checking in we went for a walk and had a cup of tea. It was cold during the night and there was no heat in the room. We did not unload the car.
April 15, 1985 Monday - Predejane to Zdihow, Yugoslavia
After breakfast, we left for Belgrade at 07:20. The sky was overcast and the weather was cool. The road was fairly good with very little traffic. The worst traffic so far has been in Turkey. The land was all in cultivation, and we saw a lot of small groups of people working the land with very little modern equipment. In Belgrade we stopped at Hotel Intercontinental for lunch. It was extremely nice and so we decided to spend a few days in the area. We tried to check in, but they were booked solid. There was some kind of international conference going on and all the first class hotels were filled up.
After breakfast, we left for Belgrade at 07:20. The sky was overcast and the weather was cool. The road was fairly good with very little traffic. The worst traffic so far has been in Turkey. The land was all in cultivation, and we saw a lot of small groups of people working the land with very little modern equipment. In Belgrade we stopped at Hotel Intercontinental for lunch. It was extremely nice and so we decided to spend a few days in the area. We tried to check in, but they were booked solid. There was some kind of international conference going on and all the first class hotels were filled up.
After lunch we were in the local gift shop in the hotel when we met a couple from Los Angeles. They had just arrived from visiting Opatija, on the coast, and highly recommended visiting the area. We bought some crystal, and back at the car we decided to go to the coast. We continued to drive north to Zagreb. It started raining, and in Zagreb we turned east toward the coast. We had to cross a mountain range in order to go to Opatija. The road from Zagreb to Karlovac was fairly good, but after Karlovac it was mountain driving on a very narrow road with lots of curves. It was getting late and we didn't want to arrive late in Opatija as we had no idea about a place to stay, so we decided to stop at another roadside hotel around 19:30 near the village of Zdihow. We had driven around 500 miles that day. We stopped and very little English was spoken in this area. We ate and went up stairs to our room. The room was clean and large but no heat or hot water. Kathryn tried to read. I went down to the car and got one of our blankets to keep warm. The cost of the room with breakfast was $9.10 (U.S.) including breakfast.
April 16, 1985 Tuesday - Zdihow to Rijeka, Yugoslavia
We went down for breakfast and found out that time had moved back one hour. It had snowed during the night. After breakfast we loaded the car and headed toward Opatija. The road was very curvy and covered with snow and ice in places. In Rijeka we stopped at Hotel Icici, a beach side hotel in Rijeka. The Hotel is located in a cove in the vicinity of Opatija (Rijeka and Opatija are now in Croatia - ed.). It had a private beach and we found out that it was classified as a high second class hotel. The hotel is only open from April until November. We checked in and the room rate was $17.50 (U.S.) per day. Weather was overcast and after checking in we went downtown to look around. We found some crystal but really didn't see any that we wanted. The town was very pretty, and it was a little early for the tourist season and too cool for the beach. There were lots of flowers. We just relaxed and enjoyed the day.
We went down for breakfast and found out that time had moved back one hour. It had snowed during the night. After breakfast we loaded the car and headed toward Opatija. The road was very curvy and covered with snow and ice in places. In Rijeka we stopped at Hotel Icici, a beach side hotel in Rijeka. The Hotel is located in a cove in the vicinity of Opatija (Rijeka and Opatija are now in Croatia - ed.). It had a private beach and we found out that it was classified as a high second class hotel. The hotel is only open from April until November. We checked in and the room rate was $17.50 (U.S.) per day. Weather was overcast and after checking in we went downtown to look around. We found some crystal but really didn't see any that we wanted. The town was very pretty, and it was a little early for the tourist season and too cool for the beach. There were lots of flowers. We just relaxed and enjoyed the day.
April 17, 1985 Wednesday - Opatija, Yugoslavia
Walked around town and had a very restful day. Looked for crystal, but the selection was not very good. The town had a very nice ocean walkway and the weather was still overcast and cool and the area was not crowded. We decided after dinner to drive into Italy in the morning.
Walked around town and had a very restful day. Looked for crystal, but the selection was not very good. The town had a very nice ocean walkway and the weather was still overcast and cool and the area was not crowded. We decided after dinner to drive into Italy in the morning.
April 18, 1985 Thursday - Opatija to Mestre, Italy
After breakfast we loaded the car and started toward Trieste. The weather was still cool and overcast. We had no problems crossing the border, but we couldn't find a place to get some money. We drove 787 miles in Yugoslavia. Gasoline was $1.84 (U.S.) per gallon and we were supposed to get a 10% discount but we didn't always get the discount for some reason or other. We took the bypass around Trieste and from the bypass the city looked very pretty. From the highway one looked down on Trieste and the bay. We stopped at the first town after Trieste and cashed in some traveler's checks. As we approach Venice on the A4 toll road we decided to go to the airport to get information on hotels in the area. At the airport they had a hotel desk and we had them call in for a room at Hotel Ambasciatori (4 stars). After getting directions we headed for the hotel. The hotel was in Mestre, Italy near Venice.
After breakfast we loaded the car and started toward Trieste. The weather was still cool and overcast. We had no problems crossing the border, but we couldn't find a place to get some money. We drove 787 miles in Yugoslavia. Gasoline was $1.84 (U.S.) per gallon and we were supposed to get a 10% discount but we didn't always get the discount for some reason or other. We took the bypass around Trieste and from the bypass the city looked very pretty. From the highway one looked down on Trieste and the bay. We stopped at the first town after Trieste and cashed in some traveler's checks. As we approach Venice on the A4 toll road we decided to go to the airport to get information on hotels in the area. At the airport they had a hotel desk and we had them call in for a room at Hotel Ambasciatori (4 stars). After getting directions we headed for the hotel. The hotel was in Mestre, Italy near Venice.
On the way to the Hotel we saw a Volvo Dealer and we stopped to see if they could fix the muffler system that was ripped off in Turkey. The noise was really bad in the car, as well as outside the car. We kept expecting to be stopped because of the noise, especially when we were around the police and border guards at each border. They said that they could fix it in the afternoon at 14:00. We checked in and unloaded the car and had lunch. The room rate was $65.00 (U.S.) per day. Kathryn stayed at the hotel, and I took the car back to the shop and waited for it. It cost $141.00 (U.S.) and I had to use all of my local money as well as some US dollars that I had. Kathryn had sent out some laundry and when I got back we went for a walk around the town. Sky still overcast. We had dinner in the Hotel.
April 19, 1985 Friday - Mestre, Italy
After breakfast the hotel provided transportation to the island of Murana, where the major industry was the production of Venetian glass and glass museum. We walked around and did a lot of looking but didn't buy any Venetian glass. Later we took the water bus over to the main island. We did a lot of walking, just looking, and had a very expensive cup of tea in the square of St. Mark. Venice is a very interesting place to walk around. We did not take the Grand Canal gondola tour. We passed by a bank and were able to get some money exchanged. The sun came out and I took a lot of pictures. It was too early for the tourists, but there appeared to be a lot of local school tours going on. Later in the afternoon we went back to our hotel. Our laundry was not back yet. We decided not to go back to Venice in the morning but leave for Switzerland as soon as we get the laundry.
After breakfast the hotel provided transportation to the island of Murana, where the major industry was the production of Venetian glass and glass museum. We walked around and did a lot of looking but didn't buy any Venetian glass. Later we took the water bus over to the main island. We did a lot of walking, just looking, and had a very expensive cup of tea in the square of St. Mark. Venice is a very interesting place to walk around. We did not take the Grand Canal gondola tour. We passed by a bank and were able to get some money exchanged. The sun came out and I took a lot of pictures. It was too early for the tourists, but there appeared to be a lot of local school tours going on. Later in the afternoon we went back to our hotel. Our laundry was not back yet. We decided not to go back to Venice in the morning but leave for Switzerland as soon as we get the laundry.
April 20, 1985 Saturday - Mestre, Italy to Aosta, Italy
The laundry arrived late last night so we checked out of the hotel after breakfast, around 09:30. The car was really quiet and worth the money to get it fixed. Before the car was worked on, we could hardly hear each other for the roar of the engine. We stopped around 15:30 at a small hotel in Aosta, Italy. The room was big, hot water but no heat. Room rate was $ 24.95 (U.S.) per day. Aosta is a small city (45,000) in NW Italy, near the junction of the Great and Little St. Bernard passes. The Aosta Valley borders on France in the West and on Switzerland in the North, with more than 70 castles still standing. It is a high Alpine country that includes the Italian slopes of Mount Blanc, the Matterhorn and Mount Rosa. We walked around the town. Most of the traffic was heading toward the ski country. It is pretty countryside.
The laundry arrived late last night so we checked out of the hotel after breakfast, around 09:30. The car was really quiet and worth the money to get it fixed. Before the car was worked on, we could hardly hear each other for the roar of the engine. We stopped around 15:30 at a small hotel in Aosta, Italy. The room was big, hot water but no heat. Room rate was $ 24.95 (U.S.) per day. Aosta is a small city (45,000) in NW Italy, near the junction of the Great and Little St. Bernard passes. The Aosta Valley borders on France in the West and on Switzerland in the North, with more than 70 castles still standing. It is a high Alpine country that includes the Italian slopes of Mount Blanc, the Matterhorn and Mount Rosa. We walked around the town. Most of the traffic was heading toward the ski country. It is pretty countryside.
April 21, 1985 Sunday - Aosta, Italy to Gruyere District, Switzerland
We left the hotel around 08:15 and drove through the tunnel (11 miles) under Mount Blanc. We crossed into France and drove past the ski area of Chamonix and on to Geneva. At the French-Switzerland border we had our first problem at a border since we crossed the Jordan-Syria border. No one to date had noticed the old 1977 Illinois car license plates, but at the crossing going into Switzerland, the Swiss Border Police, as they approached the car, noticed that we did not have a front car plate. They then went around and checked the back plate and then questioned the fact that we only had one tag instead of two tags. They let us proceed into Switzerland.
We left the hotel around 08:15 and drove through the tunnel (11 miles) under Mount Blanc. We crossed into France and drove past the ski area of Chamonix and on to Geneva. At the French-Switzerland border we had our first problem at a border since we crossed the Jordan-Syria border. No one to date had noticed the old 1977 Illinois car license plates, but at the crossing going into Switzerland, the Swiss Border Police, as they approached the car, noticed that we did not have a front car plate. They then went around and checked the back plate and then questioned the fact that we only had one tag instead of two tags. They let us proceed into Switzerland.
We cashed in $100 (U.S.) at the border bank. We drove to Geneva and parked the car and went for lunch. After lunch we walked along the shores of Lake Lausanne, which was very nice and the weather was just right for walking. We walked back to the car and started driving. After about two hours we stopped at Motel De la Gruyere in the Gruyere District facing Lake Mondsee. We drove 304 miles in Italy and the cost of gas was $2.74 (U.S.) per gallon. The room rate was $39.25 (U.S.) per day. It was a new motel with large rooms and very nice. The area was very pretty and we decided to stay over another day.
April 22, 1985 Monday - Gruyere District, Switzerland
We had an excellent breakfast, with cereals, various breads, cheese, butter, and tea. We drove around Lake Mondsee, stopping whenever a place looked interesting. We visited a cheese factory in Gruyeres, drove around Bulle and Moundon. Back at the hotel Kathryn did some washing and we mailed some cards back to the family. We called Kathy and she had a cold. This District of Switzerland is famous for its dairy products. So far the food in Switzerland had been expensive but good.
We had an excellent breakfast, with cereals, various breads, cheese, butter, and tea. We drove around Lake Mondsee, stopping whenever a place looked interesting. We visited a cheese factory in Gruyeres, drove around Bulle and Moundon. Back at the hotel Kathryn did some washing and we mailed some cards back to the family. We called Kathy and she had a cold. This District of Switzerland is famous for its dairy products. So far the food in Switzerland had been expensive but good.
April 23, 1985 Tuesday - Gruyere District to Zurich, Switzerland
After breakfast we drove toward Zurich by the way of Luzern. In driving through Luzern we saw a Museum of Transportation so we decided to stop and go through it. It was very interesting. We left Luzern around 16:30 planning on stopping at a hotel in Adiswil. We had obtained the name of the hotel from a tourist information center in Fribourn. We never found the cutoff from the highway to get to the hotel, so we decided to go on the Zurich airport, assuming there would be hotels around the airport. In Zurich we got in the rush hour traffic, and to make matters worse it started raining. We located the airport but could not find a parking space. While driving around the airport we came across a hotel so we stopped and checked in. The Movenpick Hotel was very nice with a room rate of $70.25 (U.S.) with no breakfast. This was our most expensive hotel yet. In the lobby we met a Mobil Project Manager and he knew several of the Mobil people in Aramco that we knew.
After breakfast we drove toward Zurich by the way of Luzern. In driving through Luzern we saw a Museum of Transportation so we decided to stop and go through it. It was very interesting. We left Luzern around 16:30 planning on stopping at a hotel in Adiswil. We had obtained the name of the hotel from a tourist information center in Fribourn. We never found the cutoff from the highway to get to the hotel, so we decided to go on the Zurich airport, assuming there would be hotels around the airport. In Zurich we got in the rush hour traffic, and to make matters worse it started raining. We located the airport but could not find a parking space. While driving around the airport we came across a hotel so we stopped and checked in. The Movenpick Hotel was very nice with a room rate of $70.25 (U.S.) with no breakfast. This was our most expensive hotel yet. In the lobby we met a Mobil Project Manager and he knew several of the Mobil people in Aramco that we knew.
April 24 Wednesday - Zurich to Lunz, Germany
We left the next day for Germany. We had to cross into Germany back to Switzerland and finally back into Germany. We had a lot of problems each time crossing the border because of the one car plate. I had switched the plate from the back to the front as the
border police always seemed to approach the car from the front. At the first crossing, I was asked about the second plate and I quickly decided to say that the plate just disappeared off the car somewhere in Switzerland. I was then asked why didn't I report it to the police. We finally cleared customs and on to the next crossing.
We left the next day for Germany. We had to cross into Germany back to Switzerland and finally back into Germany. We had a lot of problems each time crossing the border because of the one car plate. I had switched the plate from the back to the front as the
border police always seemed to approach the car from the front. At the first crossing, I was asked about the second plate and I quickly decided to say that the plate just disappeared off the car somewhere in Switzerland. I was then asked why didn't I report it to the police. We finally cleared customs and on to the next crossing.
Going back into Switzerland was no problem, but in the final crossing into Germany, the Germany police ran our names through the computer and did a lot of talking and asking questions about the missing plate. After about 30 minutes we were allowed to proceed into Germany. I had not driven two miles into Germany when all a sudden four police cars converged on us and pulled us over. Finally after a lot of talking in German over the radio and to us we were let go. Needless to say, we both had no idea what was going to happen when all the police cars showed up.
It had rained in Zurich last night, but about 10 miles from Zurich the sky cleared up and we had our first really clear day since we left Turkey. The countryside was real nice. We drove through the Black Forest. The Forest had really dense dark pines and was very pretty. We stopped at a roadside inn near the village of Lunz. We checked in and the rate was $16.60 (U.S.) per day with breakfast. We had driven 102 miles in France and 385 miles in Switzerland. Gas was $2.06 (U.S.) per gallon in Switzerland.
April 25, 1985 Thursday - Lunz to Dusseldorf, Germany
The food was excellent at the inn and we almost decided to stay longer. After breakfast we drove on Highway A5 passing through Karisruhe, Heidelberg, Darmstadt to Frankfurt. At Frankfurt, we stopped at the airport and picked up an International Herold Tribune to find a car shipping agent. I made several calls to obtain rates and schedules from different ports. Based on the information I was told, I selected a shipping firm in Brussels. We left the airport, planning on stopping at Wiesbaden for the night. We couldn't find a room, so we drove on to Cologne. There was no rooms in Cologne, and we drove on to Dusseldorf and finally found a room in the Dusseldorf Holiday Inn. The room rate was $88.00 (U.S.) per day. It was a long day, with the stop at the Frankfurt airport to arrange for shipping the car. It rained off and on all day.
The food was excellent at the inn and we almost decided to stay longer. After breakfast we drove on Highway A5 passing through Karisruhe, Heidelberg, Darmstadt to Frankfurt. At Frankfurt, we stopped at the airport and picked up an International Herold Tribune to find a car shipping agent. I made several calls to obtain rates and schedules from different ports. Based on the information I was told, I selected a shipping firm in Brussels. We left the airport, planning on stopping at Wiesbaden for the night. We couldn't find a room, so we drove on to Cologne. There was no rooms in Cologne, and we drove on to Dusseldorf and finally found a room in the Dusseldorf Holiday Inn. The room rate was $88.00 (U.S.) per day. It was a long day, with the stop at the Frankfurt airport to arrange for shipping the car. It rained off and on all day.
April 26, 1985 Friday - Dusseldorf to Dordrecht, Holland
After breakfast we left for Antwerp, Belgium and arrived around 11:30. We had no problems crossing the border except for a few questions about the tags. We stopped at a bank and obtained local currency from our credit card. As soon as we got in downtown Antwerp, I stopped and called Transcar, a car shipping agent, for directions to their office. We got stopped several times by the Antwerp police in reference to the car plates, and each time I was stopped I would ask for directions to Transcar. I told the police that Transcar was shipping the car out of the country. I finally located the office building and we parked the car. Kathryn stayed in the car while I went into their office.
After breakfast we left for Antwerp, Belgium and arrived around 11:30. We had no problems crossing the border except for a few questions about the tags. We stopped at a bank and obtained local currency from our credit card. As soon as we got in downtown Antwerp, I stopped and called Transcar, a car shipping agent, for directions to their office. We got stopped several times by the Antwerp police in reference to the car plates, and each time I was stopped I would ask for directions to Transcar. I told the police that Transcar was shipping the car out of the country. I finally located the office building and we parked the car. Kathryn stayed in the car while I went into their office.
They quoted a different price than the one I had gotten over the phone. They wanted $850.00 in U.S. dollars only, no local money or traveler's checks, for shipping the car to Oakland, San Francisco but over the phone they had quoted me a price of $814 (U.S.). After a few minutes they lowered the price to the quoted $814 (U.S.). They did not recommend insurance which was 1.5% of declared value. We agreed, and the car had to be delivered to their yard at the port on May 2 to be shipped on the vessel "Tosca" with stops at New York, Baltimore and Oakland. At that time they would need the title and the shipping charge in U.S. dollars. After the car is on the way they would send me the title by registered mail. When the car was delivered at the port the fuel should be almost empty and they recommended not to leave anything in the car or lock anything.
Afterward Kathryn and I went to a travel agent that was downstairs from Transcar to get air line tickets to the States, and train tickets to Luxembourg. We booked a flight on Icelandic Air to Chicago, by way of Reykjavik plus booking on the train to Luxembourg for $325.00 (U.S.) each. The schedule is as follows:
May 2 Deliver car to Transcar at the port
May 2 Take train to Luxembourg
May 3 Icelandic Air to Reykjavik, Iceland
May 7 Icelandic Air to Chicago
May 12 United to San Francisco
We left Antwerp and drove toward Holland. At the border we stopped at a government tourist office and got a hotel for the night. We found out that the annual flower parade was the next day.
May 2 Deliver car to Transcar at the port
May 2 Take train to Luxembourg
May 3 Icelandic Air to Reykjavik, Iceland
May 7 Icelandic Air to Chicago
May 12 United to San Francisco
We left Antwerp and drove toward Holland. At the border we stopped at a government tourist office and got a hotel for the night. We found out that the annual flower parade was the next day.
April 27, 1985 Saturday - Dordrecht to Hoofddorp, Holland
The hotel was a Best Western and the rate was $26.35(U.S.) per day without breakfast. We drove 448 miles in Germany and the fuel cost was $1.78 (U.S.) per gallon. We had a large breakfast and checked out of the motel. We drove back to the border and went to the tourist office and signed up for a room in a private home. We located the home and checked in. It was not a good decision, as the room was very small, no chairs, no hot water and no heat. After checking in we drove to Lisse to see the parade.
The hotel was a Best Western and the rate was $26.35(U.S.) per day without breakfast. We drove 448 miles in Germany and the fuel cost was $1.78 (U.S.) per gallon. We had a large breakfast and checked out of the motel. We drove back to the border and went to the tourist office and signed up for a room in a private home. We located the home and checked in. It was not a good decision, as the room was very small, no chairs, no hot water and no heat. After checking in we drove to Lisse to see the parade.
We found a place to park, and walked to the street where the parade would pass. It had been raining off and on earlier, and the sun came out around 15:00. It was cold and all the girls on the floats were bundled up. Before the parade was over it started snowing. In all, weather-wise it was a very bitter day. The floats were very pretty and the flower display was excellent. After the parade we got back in the car wet and cold and drove back to Hoofddorp. We walked around town and found a cafe and had hot tea. That made us feel better and we looked for a tavern to have dinner. We located one and went in for dinner. The food was excellent and only cost $15.53(U.S.). The tavern was small and they cooked the food only when it was the order. The desert was very good with strawberries. We went back to our room around 19:00. Outside of the weather the parade and flowers were worthwhile seeing.
April 28, 1985 Sunday - Hoofddorp to Nooh, Holland
During the night it started raining and later turned to sleet. The room was bad, the bed was very short and narrow, no heat or hot water. We left around 8:30 for Lisse to see the tulip festival in the Keukenhof Gardens. We walked around the gardens and it started raining. The greenhouses were full of flowers and very pretty. We went to a tented area and got some hot chocolate. Just after leaving the area the wind came up and it started sleeting. The wind started blowing so hard that the tents were almost blown away. We left the gardens and drove around the tulip fields. Each field was a different color and despite the weather it was an interesting day. We drove to Noor near the Germany border and checked into another Best Western Inn called "De Plasmolen" around 14:00. It was a very pretty inn, rather small and seemed to cater to people who wanted a very quiet place to relax. The rate was $33.80 (U.S.) with breakfast per day, and the room was very nice. We checked in for one night but after looking the area over, we decided to stay longer.
During the night it started raining and later turned to sleet. The room was bad, the bed was very short and narrow, no heat or hot water. We left around 8:30 for Lisse to see the tulip festival in the Keukenhof Gardens. We walked around the gardens and it started raining. The greenhouses were full of flowers and very pretty. We went to a tented area and got some hot chocolate. Just after leaving the area the wind came up and it started sleeting. The wind started blowing so hard that the tents were almost blown away. We left the gardens and drove around the tulip fields. Each field was a different color and despite the weather it was an interesting day. We drove to Noor near the Germany border and checked into another Best Western Inn called "De Plasmolen" around 14:00. It was a very pretty inn, rather small and seemed to cater to people who wanted a very quiet place to relax. The rate was $33.80 (U.S.) with breakfast per day, and the room was very nice. We checked in for one night but after looking the area over, we decided to stay longer.
April 29, 1985 - Monday Nooh, Holland
We drove around the next day and were able to buy a Newsweek and a Today. I tried get cash off my credit card as we did not have enough U.S. dollars to pay for the shipment of the car, but no luck. Back at the Inn we cleaned out the car and separated out what was going to stay in the car and what would be shipped with the car. We never had to use the gas from Saudi as we could always find a gas station. I emptied the gas cans into the car. We called Jim but he was in New Jersey. We then called Wayne in Naperville to give him our plans, as he was living in our Naperville Condo. We got four packages ready to mail.
We drove around the next day and were able to buy a Newsweek and a Today. I tried get cash off my credit card as we did not have enough U.S. dollars to pay for the shipment of the car, but no luck. Back at the Inn we cleaned out the car and separated out what was going to stay in the car and what would be shipped with the car. We never had to use the gas from Saudi as we could always find a gas station. I emptied the gas cans into the car. We called Jim but he was in New Jersey. We then called Wayne in Naperville to give him our plans, as he was living in our Naperville Condo. We got four packages ready to mail.
April 30, 1985 - Tuesday Nooh, Holland
Kathryn stayed around the Inn and I went far a long walk. There were several walking trails in the area and I went on one of the longer trails. It was very nice crossing the country side. Back in the Inn we repacked our luggage for the upcoming train ride.
Kathryn stayed around the Inn and I went far a long walk. There were several walking trails in the area and I went on one of the longer trails. It was very nice crossing the country side. Back in the Inn we repacked our luggage for the upcoming train ride.
May 1, 1985 Wednesday - Noor To Dordrecht, Holland
We left after breakfast and drove back toward Antwerp. At the first town we stopped and mailed four packages to Illinois. We located a bank and exchanged money for US dollars in order to pay Transcar to ship our car. Weather not very good. We stopped fairly close to the border and checked into a motel at a rate of $28.77 (U.S.) per day without breakfast.
We left after breakfast and drove back toward Antwerp. At the first town we stopped and mailed four packages to Illinois. We located a bank and exchanged money for US dollars in order to pay Transcar to ship our car. Weather not very good. We stopped fairly close to the border and checked into a motel at a rate of $28.77 (U.S.) per day without breakfast.
May 2, 1985 Thursday - Dordrecht to Luxembourg
We started off for Antwerp after breakfast. The weather was bad. We located the Transcar's office after stopping only once for directions. We paid Transcar, leaving the car with them, and took a taxi to the train station to catch the train to Luxembourg. Checked in the luggage. We arrived in Luxembourg at 15:30 without luggage. We checked in at Hotel Kons. The hotel was across town from the train station and was very nice. Our luggage showed up around 17:30. The room rate was $51.67 (U.S.) per day without breakfast. It rained off and on. We went for a walk around the city.
We started off for Antwerp after breakfast. The weather was bad. We located the Transcar's office after stopping only once for directions. We paid Transcar, leaving the car with them, and took a taxi to the train station to catch the train to Luxembourg. Checked in the luggage. We arrived in Luxembourg at 15:30 without luggage. We checked in at Hotel Kons. The hotel was across town from the train station and was very nice. Our luggage showed up around 17:30. The room rate was $51.67 (U.S.) per day without breakfast. It rained off and on. We went for a walk around the city.
May 3, 1985 Friday - Luxembourg to Reykjavik, Iceland
After breakfast we packed up and left early for the airport to catch the plane to Iceland. We arrived in Reykjavik around 16:00. The flight took three hours with a two hour time change. At the airport I found out that the hotel I wanted to stay at was booked up, and we ended up at Hotel Holt. We had dinner at an old Reykjavik restaurant "Nast". Food in Iceland is very expensive. We walked around town and confirmed our flight to Chicago. We drove 975 miles in Holland and Belgium. Gas cost $2.10 (U.S.) per gallon.
After breakfast we packed up and left early for the airport to catch the plane to Iceland. We arrived in Reykjavik around 16:00. The flight took three hours with a two hour time change. At the airport I found out that the hotel I wanted to stay at was booked up, and we ended up at Hotel Holt. We had dinner at an old Reykjavik restaurant "Nast". Food in Iceland is very expensive. We walked around town and confirmed our flight to Chicago. We drove 975 miles in Holland and Belgium. Gas cost $2.10 (U.S.) per gallon.
May 4, 1985 Saturday - Reykjavik, Iceland
I showed Kathryn the town, and it had really changed since the last time I was here. Kathryn tripped on the street and hurt her ankle. We had an excellent fish dinner at a restaurant located in an old home. We signed up for a tour the next day to the country side.
I showed Kathryn the town, and it had really changed since the last time I was here. Kathryn tripped on the street and hurt her ankle. We had an excellent fish dinner at a restaurant located in an old home. We signed up for a tour the next day to the country side.
May 5, 1985 Sunday - Reykjavik, Iceland
We went on a long tour of the area, leaving the hotel around 09:00 and returning at 18:00. The weather was clear and cold. I had been to most of the places the tour went, but it was fun showing the places to Kathryn.
We went on a long tour of the area, leaving the hotel around 09:00 and returning at 18:00. The weather was clear and cold. I had been to most of the places the tour went, but it was fun showing the places to Kathryn.
May 6, 1985 Monday - Reykjavik, Iceland
We spent most of the time shopping and looking around Reykjavik. In the afternoon we packed for the flight tomorrow to Illinois. We called Wayne but he was not at home.
We spent most of the time shopping and looking around Reykjavik. In the afternoon we packed for the flight tomorrow to Illinois. We called Wayne but he was not at home.
May 7, 1985 Tuesday - Reykjavik to Naperville, Illinois
We arrived back in Chicago in the afternoon at Terminal #4. It is the new international terminal and it was our first time in this terminal. It was a smooth flight and we cleared customs without any problems. I had to go to the old terminal #2 to rent a car. They only had a large car so I took it and drove to terminal #4 to pick up Kathryn and all the luggage. We drove to Naperville. To our surprise, Wayne was still in the condo.
We arrived back in Chicago in the afternoon at Terminal #4. It is the new international terminal and it was our first time in this terminal. It was a smooth flight and we cleared customs without any problems. I had to go to the old terminal #2 to rent a car. They only had a large car so I took it and drove to terminal #4 to pick up Kathryn and all the luggage. We drove to Naperville. To our surprise, Wayne was still in the condo.
May 8 to May 12, 1985 - Naperville, Illinois
We spent the time seeing friends, catching up with mail and laundry. We told Wayne that he had to be out by the time we returned from San Francisco.
We spent the time seeing friends, catching up with mail and laundry. We told Wayne that he had to be out by the time we returned from San Francisco.
May 12, 1985 Sunday - Chicago to San Francisco, California
We flew United from Chicago to San Francisco and went to Kathy's place in Menlo Park.
We flew United from Chicago to San Francisco and went to Kathy's place in Menlo Park.
May 13 to June 12, 1985 - Menlo Park, California
We spent most of our time just relaxing and getting used to being back to the States, visiting with Kathy, and Kathryn's brother in Sacramento. The ship with our car arrived in Oakland and the Volvo was unloaded on June 9. I went down to the holding area in the port and got it out of customs on June 10. I had the air conditioner worked on, the car washed and waxed. The gas cans were stolen out of the car, but nothing else. The dash panel lock was broken even though we did not lock it.
We spent most of our time just relaxing and getting used to being back to the States, visiting with Kathy, and Kathryn's brother in Sacramento. The ship with our car arrived in Oakland and the Volvo was unloaded on June 9. I went down to the holding area in the port and got it out of customs on June 10. I had the air conditioner worked on, the car washed and waxed. The gas cans were stolen out of the car, but nothing else. The dash panel lock was broken even though we did not lock it.
June 12 to June 16, 1985- Menlo Park, California
After breakfast we started driving east to Naperville. We stopped just outside of Sacramento California, Wells, Nevada, Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Stuart, Iowa arriving in Naperville on the 16th.
After breakfast we started driving east to Naperville. We stopped just outside of Sacramento California, Wells, Nevada, Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Stuart, Iowa arriving in Naperville on the 16th.
Summary
Trip started March 26, 1985 in Ras Tanura, SA and was completed on June 16, 1985 in Naperville, Il
Drove Ras Tanura to Jordan Border 975 miles
In Jordan 245 miles
In Syria 261 miles
In Turkey 1,379 miles
In Greece 322 miles
In Yugoslavia 787 miles
In Italy 304 miles
In France 102 miles
In Switzerland 385 miles
In Germany 448 miles
In Belgium and Holland 527 miles
From San Francisco to Naperville 2,247 miles
Total (from Ras Tanura, S. A. to Naperville, IL) 7,982 miles
Price of Gasoline U.S. Dollars per U S Gallons:
Saudi Arabia 0.426
Jordan 1.84
Syria 1.02
Turkey 1.74
Greece 1.77
Yugoslavia 1.87
Italy 2.75
Switzerland 2.04
Germany 1.83
Holland 2.10
Vehicle /expense ($ U.S.) in getting ready for the trip and on the trip:
Tires - A set of four $ 213.76
Car Radio & Tape player $ 280.00
Headlights, mirrors tune up, etc $ 540.24
Insurance for trip $ 854.00
Brakes $ 19.38
Exhaust System $ 141.00
Total Trip Cost $2,048.38
Left with Cash $ 573
Traveler's Checks-J $1,380
Traveler's Checks-K $1,250
From Kathy $ 240
From the Bank in USA $ 200 Total $3,643.00
Returned with 205.00
Spent: Cash $3,438.00
Credit Cards* $3,230.85 Total $6,668.85
*Includes air fare from Europe and shipping the cars.
Cost breakdown per day $80.35
Drove Ras Tanura to Jordan Border 975 miles
In Jordan 245 miles
In Syria 261 miles
In Turkey 1,379 miles
In Greece 322 miles
In Yugoslavia 787 miles
In Italy 304 miles
In France 102 miles
In Switzerland 385 miles
In Germany 448 miles
In Belgium and Holland 527 miles
From San Francisco to Naperville 2,247 miles
Total (from Ras Tanura, S. A. to Naperville, IL) 7,982 miles
Price of Gasoline U.S. Dollars per U S Gallons:
Saudi Arabia 0.426
Jordan 1.84
Syria 1.02
Turkey 1.74
Greece 1.77
Yugoslavia 1.87
Italy 2.75
Switzerland 2.04
Germany 1.83
Holland 2.10
Vehicle /expense ($ U.S.) in getting ready for the trip and on the trip:
Tires - A set of four $ 213.76
Car Radio & Tape player $ 280.00
Headlights, mirrors tune up, etc $ 540.24
Insurance for trip $ 854.00
Brakes $ 19.38
Exhaust System $ 141.00
Total Trip Cost $2,048.38
Left with Cash $ 573
Traveler's Checks-J $1,380
Traveler's Checks-K $1,250
From Kathy $ 240
From the Bank in USA $ 200 Total $3,643.00
Returned with 205.00
Spent: Cash $3,438.00
Credit Cards* $3,230.85 Total $6,668.85
*Includes air fare from Europe and shipping the cars.
Cost breakdown per day $80.35