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About Life and Moving.
Our Story
When you Pack up to Leave for the Azores...
Believe me, that is a big decision - especially when you have been in the same house for many years and have passed the mid-seventies mark.
Like lots of other people, we did collect lots and lots of stuff over the years.
After a couple of months of donating and garage sales (you get to meet all the really nice neighbors you never knew!), we finally got close to the end saying our final goodbyes to almost all our old personal belongings – except for the 30 boxes with the stuff we really could not part with and decided to take with us to our new home and life abroad
Our Story continued.
But, the CAR…
Now, let’s delve into the main crux of the story:
After extensive deliberation, online research, and reading about the Portuguese system for bringing personal belongings, including my cherished old car, I finally made the decision to bring my reliable 1999 SAAB 9-5 SE 3.0. She had only 63,500 miles on the odometer and had been parked in my garage for nearly nine years. She had only been taken out a few times each month to get the tires “massaged.” This has kept her in almost new condition, even close to original! My dear friends in Chicago had purchased her in 1999 and drove her down to Florida, where they kept her for their winter stays. Therefore, she has no rust damage from road salt, and I wanted to keep it that way - and ALL paint is original.!!
The Portugues System.!!
Welcome to Portugal.?????
Yes, the Portuguese people are warm and welcoming, and we have only good things to say about everyone we have met and shared wonderful Portuguese dinners with. That said, let me explain what happens when you bring along your reliable 27-year-old car. First, though, I should mention that bringing our household belongings into the country caused no trouble at all. I do not think customs even opened any of the boxes.
How it starts.
Shipping to Holland
Waiting time is NOT my strong site.!
I had shipped my beloved Saab 9-5 from Miami to Rotterdam, Holland at the end of March and she arrived in Rotterdam early May. My wife and I flew into Amsterdam on May 3rd, staying at a hotel for the first night and leaving next morning for Rotterdam where we planned to pick up the car. It was our intention to then take a little vacation by driving the car up to Denmark and also to visit the Saab museum in Sweden then back to Lisbon where the car would be shipped to our new home in the Azores.
But things didn’t go as planned. Apparently, shipping a car from US to EU country is faster on paper than in reality, especially when dealing with Customs and how it fits into their schedule. So, we were forced to play tourist in the Rotterdam area while just waiting in line for the car to be released. After three days, we finally got the green light to come get her but then…
When we arrived at the shipping company, we found that the Customs Police was in the process of “raiding” the place (apparently a common “spot” check process) to find any “irregularities” …illegal activities, drugs, etc.
Naturally, I was now very worried about – what if drugs had been hidden in my car during shipment! I had visions of missing my trip up north if for some reason they chose to seize my car! But no, the nice customs lady came to me and asked which was my car; she told me to follow her into the holding area and I pointed out my car. There she was standing and waiting …and in miraculously all in one piece!
It’s all yours, said the nice lady, you are free to GO!!
Driving to Denmark.
On the road - I LOVE IT!!
It’s incredible to be on the road again. Driving a car from a brand that has set some of the world’s highest standards for comfort and safety is an experience like no other. Saab Cars boasts a staggering number of patents, somewhere around 450 total, covering safety, cabin air quality, and emission control. Even though the exact number of patents isn’t officially disclosed, it’s clear that Saab Cars was committed to innovation, comfort and safety.
As I settle into the driver’s seat and embark on a new road trip, I feel a sense of exhilaration and freedom. The car’s performance is nothing short of impressive. Despite being a 3-liter V6 engine, it manages to achieve an impressive fuel efficiency of 27.2 miles per gallon at highway speed.
(11.78 kilometers per liter). It’s a testament to Saab Cars’ engineering prowess and dedication to providing a superior driving experience.
Ribe Denmark.
Love my good old hometown Ribe.
Okay, so in Holland, I was given a 14-day T-1 document to complete the trip. Consequently, I had to be in Portugal no later than May 19. This significantly impacted our plans to visit the Saab Museum in Trollhättan, Sweden. Due to the T-1 document, we decided to postpone that visit and focus on spending quality time with our Danish family, including our son, two fantastic grandsons, and sisters and brother who reside in Vejle and Ribe.
We managed to find time to visit the Fermarnbelt tunnel project, which was definitely worth the drive. We had a beautiful overnight stay near Assens, Fyn. Denmark may be small, but like the Azores, it offers a lot to explore. Just take your time and enjoy the journey. One of the highlights of our trip was spending time with the “boys.” We had a fantastic time, especially since go-karting is a big thing, especially for the 10-year-old. He definitely has a talent for it. I believe the 11-year-old older brother is more inclined towards academics, but that’s just how life is; we all have our own paths to follow.
