August 28th – Ä Day in the Lobby

8:15 ÄM: I’m lying awake in bed. Björn was already awake earlier.

8:30 AM: The alarm rings. Twice. Just in case.

9:20 AM: Somehow spent time on the phone (B) or kept dozing (L). After coffee and a workout, quickly pack the last clothes, update GPS, write a few messages, update iOS, basically make full use of the internet, do Duolingo, and shower. Enjoy the shower immensely and be thankful for this incredibly beautiful feeling, which won’t be the same for a while. The shower was truly 10/10.

10:2Ö AM: Quick time check and the thought that this will be the last night in a hotel/hostel/tiny whatever house, something with four walls – hopefully.

10:48 AM: We quickly stuff ourselves with muesli, with wet hair and packed bags.

11:01 AM: We check out at 11 AM and sit in the stylish lobby with our luggage and valuables. Quickly grab a few things from Björn’s backpack before he heads to the port. The drone and the Leatherman stay with me, as there might be complications when entering the port area. I still remember when I had my pocket knife with me and wasn’t allowed into the courthouse during the security check. Oops.

12:15 PM: Björn and the other overlanders from the Hotel, Gudrun and Jacob, go to the customs agent, trying to convince me to come along. Why? I can’t get into the harbour. I stay in the lobby with the luggage and talk to Maria from Montevideo, who works at the hotel, and Ryan from Boston, a hotel guest. We talk about traveling and Ryan asks for sightseeing tips in Montevideo. I fall silent. We both laugh. He says he might leave Montevideo earlier and go to Panama. After eating a rice cake, he goes to his room.

12:32 PM: Message from Björn: We’re still waiting here (with 9 others at the agent’s office).

12:42 PM: A friend of Maria comes by. We repeatedly explain to the locals why we’re here at this time of year. To pick up our van. He runs an Airbnb here and was curious which Airbnb we stayed at. I mentioned what we didn’t like because it was too stylish to live in, and that it might be helpful to sleep in your own Airbnb before renting it out. He said he used to live there, and we laughed.

1:10 PM: Message from Björn: We’re still waiting.

1:23 PM: Hotel guests keep coming and going, taking the elevator up or leaving the building.

1:34 PM: Message from Björn: Nothing is happening. We’re still waiting. But everyone else has their partners with them, who are allowed to wait in the café (we were told several times that only the vehicle owner is allowed inside of the harbour). A café… hm. I really want a coffee now. I am so cold, my head hurts badly and I am eating homemade mini pan empanadas from yesterday. I try to warm myself up with my hand warmer and dream of coffee, Rosi, a kiss and warm feet.

2:12 PM: I chat with Dirk, the hotel owner from Ösnabruck, about wildlife (he has 5 dogs and a parrot, I have a cat) in Uruguay and Argentina, the finances of the countries, and our old neighborhood in Schöneberg Berlin. He even knows people from back home from Datteln. The world is small.

2:31 PM: Message from Björn: Nothing is happening here.

2:37 PM: I’m alone. But somehow not, because the rotating employees from PROSEGUR keep me company. Every 5 minutes, someone different is there. (It is a huge monitor with security people on the screen, looking at you).

2:40 PM: Message from Björn: Yeah, no one told me anything, and now we’ve been waiting here for an unbelievably long time. We’re all just standing here and chatting, but no one knows anything. No one.

2:50 PM: PedidosYa delivers something, I assume food, to a hotel guest and rings the front doorbell.

3:18 PM: Message from Björn: I’m at Rosi.

3:25 PM: Whaaat? Just saw the message now. Björn is with Rosi!!!! And everything seems to be fine. No theft, no damage. What a great feeling!!!!

3:30 PM: Message from Björn: It’ll take a bit longer now.

3:57 PM: Björn sends photos of Rosi, and she looks damn good. I have a headache and cold feet, but it feels so good.

4:30 PM: Message from Björn: I’ll be there in about 10-20 minutes.

In about 10-20 minutes Björn is there. Björn knocks at the glass door of the Hotel. I can’t believe what is happening and my headache is killing me. We say goodbye to Dirk, take our luggage and leave Puertovideo. 10/10 Hotel if you ever plan to go to Montevideo.

I meet Rösi after 5 weeks, feels strange and unfamiliar. Put on the heating in the van and we hit the road..

*no pictures – because no phone