…CONTINUATION OF PREVIOUS POST… ( http://4×1.com.br/seattle-parte-1/ )
…Next morning it was time to know each other well downtown de Seattle! As explained above, Seattle é um istmo. (see previous post here ) With the proximity of the estuary of the Pacific Ocean (the east of the city) aos lagos Washington e Union (west of the city), no ano de 1911 was built in the channel connecting the lake to the ocean, a complex of locks (or locks English), called: “Ballard Locks”.
Seattle map showing the Pacific (Left) e o Lago Washington (right), hair tied channel where the Ballard Locks
Movable bridge for the passage of boats in Ballard Locks
Besides avoiding the seawater invades the freshwater lakes, the locks also allow the passage of boats in the region. So, so the locks do not prevent the traditional route of salmon on site (that the end of life migrate back to the ocean to freshwater, to spawn) built a kind of ladder beside the locks, keeping, so, the natural cycle of fish.
Boat passing ocean to Lake Washignton, through the sluice
It's really cool to see the salmon rising above channel! Only it's strange to think that in a few hours we would be seeing the "relatives" of those pets exposed in Pike Place Market, and then being deliciously served on our plates! (Excuse us vegetarians) 
Salmões "subindo" back to freshwater at Ballard Locks
Salmões no Pike Place Market (o Public Market in Seattle)
And there was us know Pike Place Market, the famous Public Market Seattle is by far the most visited tourist attraction in the city! (receives up to 9 million visitors a year!). The market is the oldest public market in the U.S. and received a more modern reform as a result of the fall of Boeing, in the early 1970, as a stimulus to tourism (Boeing looks around again!). The huge market sells fruits, legumes, flowers, meat, fish and has restaurants and shops of antiques and other things "hippies".
Pike non traditional restaurant almoçamos num, o Athenian Inn, with views of the bay and where, at the end of comermos, found that one of the banks in the restaurant, had sat actor Tom Hanks in movie recording Sleepless in Seattle (Sleepless in Seatle), with actress Meg Ryan! Another curiosity is that the region, ali no Pike Place Market, is the first Starbucks! The city that has the headquarters of giants like Boeing, Microsoft and Amazon, is also the birthplace of the famous coffee chain!
Tourists queuing to enter the 1st Starbucks
Another attraction of downtown Seattle's Space Needle. With the crisis of the postwar causing huge losses for Boeing (again it) and consequentemente for city, rulers were in search of a new "revitalization" of his downtown. Therewith, in 1962 the city hosts the World's Fair (World Fair) e Seattle, following the trend Futuristic Friday, solves then build the tower, and current city landmark, chamada Space Needle. That same "wave" is released in the same period monotrem (this same, that of Levy Fidelix! ). Saindo of the, já to noite, were behind the musical center of the city. Seattle has a remarkable musical history, because it is the birthplace of rock legend Jimi Hendrix and the movement "grunge", in which arose from local bands, nothing more nothing less, as Nirvana and Pearl Jam!! It is also the place where career did Ray Charles and Quincy Jones!! Not bad hein?!?! We noted that the classic style of rock and a little grunge movement are still present in some bars in the neighborhood Capitol Hill.
Space Needle – Postcard from Seattle
Monotrilho e a Space Needle ao fundo
Yes…so much history!!! And to think that in our initial script was just a Seattle city support to sleep on our way to Alaska…
But on 17 September came the big day! It's like the saying goes: "God helps those early madruga". And so it was. At 5:50 a.m. Rebecca wakes us up to go with her on a jog through the neighborhood. After much effort were only André, Gabriel s Nandes. Most mornings Rebecca raises early, even with very cold and dark, for a run. In one of the routes Rebecca always takes an apple to give a horse a farm near, they come running to eat fruit and leaves happy galloping back to his stall.
And that was our route. We went home and raises the 7:30 news with Gustavo: "Came the email from Ronald EPA! A Tanajura is released!"We packed up and left in a hurry for Customs. Procedures here, papelada of laser, hours and hours and finally the reunion! She was perfect! Not a small scratch. Hugged her like she was a relative. It was a piece of the group that returned! We returned the rental car and at the end of the day we came home and…
Taking the Tanajura Port of Tacoma, WA
Arrival of the house of Valentine Tanajura – Expedition 4×1 and Rebecca!
More surprising: Rebecca had prepared us 'fish tacos'. The traditional Mexican tacos, but even more delicious because they were stuffed with fish and prawns in! But the surprise did not stop there… As 20h00, IN POINT, (Brazil was not 0h00), which neither desconfiássemos, James and Rebecca appear with a cake and candles lit to celebrate the birthday of André!!! (in Brazil was finally the day 18)! Neither knew they distrusted birthday because Andrew had not commented anything (they must have seen on Facebook). And besides the cake gave him a T-shirt 'Seattle Seahwaks', The football team of the city!! Foir something really amazing!! We finished the evening watching the Monday Night Footbal (football game that is nationally broadcast on Mondays, more or less as liberators of our games on Wednesday night).
Andre with Jaimie in her Birthday surprise done by Valentine!
James, Rebecca and small Jaimie giving the shirt to the Seattle Seahawks André
The next day was marked by check-ups and reviews in Tanajura before departure to Alaska. Brakes and oil changed, rotate the tires and anti-freeze to the radiator; the Tanajura was ready to start the climb towards the north of the continent! And we also bought some things we needed to face the cold in the amazing REI store - which is focused on adventure sports and even has a ranger to give directions within each national park american! James returned home and took us for a few beers in typical local bars to celebrate the birthday of André! The tequilas left us more "loose". The conversation went until the wee hours, many laughs and darts.
One of the dinners at the house along with the Valentine's cousin Rebecca, a Kelli
We woke up late and the least we could do to repay all that they did to us was trying to play a Brazilian meal. The Brazilian market in Seattle, as expected, there was not many options. And so Gustavo cooked a potato stroganoff accompanied straw and as dessert: the traditional Brigadier, paçoca and foot-boy!
Thursday, on the 20. It was our last day before departure to Alaska. We were excited and eager. Finally we managed to visit the Boeing factory, after having to reschedule due to the withdrawal of Tanajura. O Gabriel, passionate about commercial aviation, was very anxious for the visit - it was a childhood dream being realized. Boeing still has its main factories in Seattle and visit comes within the largest of which are manufactured models 747, 777 and the brand new model 787 Dreamliner - The newest concept of commercial jets with greater fuel efficiency and range, but that has not been ordered by any Brazilian company,,pt,The visit is very detailed and we could even see a,,pt,We went on a common keychain that had a van "technological" and right there,,pt,Gaston,,en,this is Gabriel and I was the one that wrote the journal,,en,not Gustavo,,en,And we all agree on what was written in this post,,en,We as Expedition 4,,en,not only Gabriel or Gustavo,,en,That said,,en,I’d like to point that I chose not to go much on details on the post because I did not want to argue about the whole situation anymore,,en,since I believe those mistakes happen and so life goes on,,en,There were no hard feelings about it until the mean e-mail you sent to us,,en,which I briefly mentioned on the post,,en,And now this comment,,en. A visita é muito detalhada e pudemos até ver um 777 commissioned by TAM in the final stages of construction, but now with the logo painted. Unfortunately we do not have photos of the factory because it was forbidden cameras and cell phones.
We left enraptured with such complexity and enormity of the factory. But it was time to re-focus in Alaska. We needed to make an extra copy of the keys Tanajura that Gabriel had lost one of police stops in Venezuela. After trying in Nissan (that the U.S. could do nothing, as the codes vary in each country) fomos em um chaveiro comum que possuía uma van “tecnológica” e ali mesmo, in his van, was able to do the unexpected! They were able to reproduce the code and voilá Tana: we had a new spare key! We buy chains for tires in case of any emergency blizzard and we were finally ready.
We returned home. Arrumamos as bad, bathed in silence and each of us left for the comfortable sleep that would last for a long time. The silence of each seizure and showed our respect for what we were about to experience in the coming days. It would be the beginning of a new stage in the Expedition. We were about to achieve one of our main goals after listening over many miles (and hitherto USA) amazed faces as they said: "Alaska?! You are going to drive pro Alaska?! What great adventure! You guys are crazy!"And in various places in Seattle alerted: "Best you go soon because the cold is coming and, face, there cold is no joke!”
Rebecca woke up early and we had prepared an upgraded breakfast. The Valentine are even people out of series. We arrange things in Tanajura and began the toughest part of the day: a farewell. Under cries and photos, Jaimie, Rebecca James and the American flag stuck in Tanajura. Hugs and more hugs and it was time to departure…next stop would already be at the entrance of the Alaska Highway…
Rebecca, James Jaimie and pasting the U.S. flag in Tanajura!
And so was our stay in Seattle, the city which today lies in our hearts. Seattle is also our home today, because people there have learned to call family.
For more photos of Seattle, click here!
8 Comments
Gustavo,
I have read your journal at the 4×1 page, finding how bad your experience had been in Seattle because you called as an ERROR on our behalf because of the issue with EPA and the delay drama.
Let me clarify something and I think I clearly told you in my previous emails on Sept 11th. First of all you are a foreigner in the U.S. and you don’t know how regulations work in this country. ERROR means make a mistake or not knowing the regulations and making a fault or omission of some procedure.
Customs, is a federal agency , which means that Custom’s law should be equal at every port of entry. Yes, the law is written but because U.S.A. it made of different States, with their own laws , Customs see the regulations in many different ways state by state or port by port.
This is not the first time that I bring a foreign vehicle to the U.S.. Yes, it is the first time to Seattle, bacause on previous occasions were Canadians on vehicles treated a free trade law.
Actually, in your 4×1 page , you have Mauro Antonini from ‘Projeto Anima’ linked. His Brazilian vehicle was imported by me from Cartagena to Houston, using the same shipping WWL line that you. The fact is, Customs did not requested the EPA letter of exemption to them. As usually vehicles using RoRo , the letter is not or nerver requested.
This is one of the reason why I did not want to request the letter and make it paying $80 for the process if wasn’t requested at the end. Well, shit happens and the port of Tacoma did requested at the end. This is not an ERROR, this is a compliance upon Custom request.
Also, I want to comment , that the letter only took 72 hours to get in your hands and the whole process was done over e-mail. How convenient don’t you think?. I have my doubts if in your country is possible to do that. I don’t think at all. Based in my experience with Latin America, Brazil is the most complicated and bureaucratic country along with Venezuela. Simply, you cannot export anything there because you loose tons of money and time.
I have sent several containers with vehicles from Brazilians and no one of them wants to enter using Brazil. We use Uruguay or Chile. Why? they know how bad it is.
I have the misfortune to sent a container from Miami to Belem , with an Argentinean vehicle, just because the owner want it that way.
It is sad to remember, how many times I have to contact Customs in Brazil , ask for letters just to convince the shipping line to take the vehicle , because the line did not want to do it. The Argentinean has to wait over 26 days in Belem to clear his vehicle. After that , I won’t do export to Brazil anymore.
All being said above, I don’t think we deserve such words on your page. I can see on all your photos having fun and clearly see how attach to your car you are. However we pay with bad comments and references.
By the way , I ‘ve just exported the vehicle of Leo Dantas (Infinita Highway) to Europe from Baltimore. There also was a problem with that. The shipping line at the port did not accept personal effects inside the car at all.
Leo of course also blamed me because I did not advise to him about that. Well, if you read the conditions at the RoRo booking , clearly say that ‘NO personal effects are allowed in the vehicles’ . However, most of the lines accept such effects at your own risk (“…”). Leonardo was advised to put his things in a box inside car locked.
Now, this article , its going to be published at the page ‘DRIVE THE AMERICAS’ advising everybody exporting a foreign vehicle that they must comply with EPA requirements and personal effects won’t be allowed anymore, when a vehicle is imported/exported from/to the U.S.A. using RoRo shipment.
We do not endorse Customs regulations or hide information to our advantage. We follow rules and work for you on every port of the Americas , as much the regulations call for.
Gaston Etchart / SAMX
Gaston,
this is Gabriel and I was the one that wrote the journal, not Gustavo. And we all agree on what was written in this post. We as Expedition 4×1, not only Gabriel or Gustavo.
That said, I’d like to point that I chose not to go much on details on the post because I did not want to argue about the whole situation anymore, since I believe those mistakes happen and so life goes on. There were no hard feelings about it until the mean e-mail you sent to us, which I briefly mentioned on the post. And now this comment.
But as we chose not to answer that e-mail at that time,,en,I also did not want to answer this rude and nonsense comment of yours,,en,I’d be really glad if you make no comments on our trip,,en,on what we do or even about our country anymore,,en,Anyways,,en,you chose to write down on our website whatever you wanted and we will not delete it,,en,however there are some points that you forced me to clear out,,en,even without the will to go on this matter anymore,,en,When you mentioned we do not know much about US regulations by the time we hired you,,en,that is,,en,indeed,,en,true,,en,And that is SO true that we decided to export our vehicle via an agent,,en,you,,en,and not by ourselves,,en,we understand that,,en,as we are hiring a service we wanted it to be as clear as possible,,en, I also did not want to answer this rude and nonsense comment of yours. Also, I’d be really glad if you make no comments on our trip, on what we do or even about our country anymore.
Anyways, you chose to write down on our website whatever you wanted and we will not delete it, however there are some points that you forced me to clear out, even without the will to go on this matter anymore:
1) When you mentioned we do not know much about US regulations by the time we hired you, that is, indeed, true. And that is SO true that we decided to export our vehicle via an agent (you) and not by ourselves. That said, we understand that, as we are hiring a service we wanted it to be as clear as possible. But when you actually checked the box on ‘EPA form 3520,,en,which states on ‘Code O,,en,of ‘Temporary imports,,en,that,,en,imported by nonresident for personal use by an individual for a period up to a year,,en,EPA letter of approval must be attached to this form.,,en,and you did not mentioned that to us,,en,not even for a moment,,en,I believe you’ve made a mistake,,en,I personally don’t care if you’ve been working,,en,or,,en,years on car exports and that this letter was never been asked to you in previous exports you’ve worked with,,en,which we recently found out that even in Miami,,en,sometimes,,en,they ask for this letter,,en,If this is a rule to be in compliance with EPA and not having it would take us,,en,days more,,en′ which states on ‘Code O’ of ‘Temporary imports’ that “imported by nonresident for personal use by an individual for a period up to a year. EPA letter of approval must be attached to this form.” and you did not mentioned that to us, not even for a moment, I believe you’ve made a mistake. I personally don’t care if you’ve been working 1, 5, 10 or 20 years on car exports and that this letter was never been asked to you in previous exports you’ve worked with (which we recently found out that even in Miami, sometimes, they ask for this letter). If this is a rule to be in compliance with EPA and not having it would take us 1, 2, 3, 4, 10 days more, we should have been warned about it and I would have to chose to take or take not the risk,,en,And that is the point where we believe you made a mistake,,en,The problem is,,en,you did,,en,in fact,,en,a good job in Colombia,,en,as we mentioned in our post on Cartagena,,en,only taking us,,en,days to do everything,,en,as you did not recognize your mistake on the EPA exemption letter and as you wrote us that nonsense,,en,and mean,,en,e-mail on September 11th as a reply about it,,en,we decided to not keep on discussing anything more with you,,en,as you said,,en,bad things happen,,en,but sometimes we need to recognize when we’re wrong and not be impulsive,,en,specially when it comes to a service that has been hired and paid for,,en,It DID NOT TOOK us,,en,hours to get our car as you mentioned and,,en,again,,en,I will clarify that,,en. And that is the point where we believe you made a mistake. The problem is, you did, in fact, a good job in Colombia (as we mentioned in our post on Cartagena) only taking us 3 days to do everything. However, as you did not recognize your mistake on the EPA exemption letter and as you wrote us that nonsense (and mean) e-mail on September 11th as a reply about it, we decided to not keep on discussing anything more with you. Yes, as you said, bad things happen, but sometimes we need to recognize when we’re wrong and not be impulsive, specially when it comes to a service that has been hired and paid for.
2) It DID NOT TOOK us 72 hours to get our car as you mentioned and, again, I will clarify that. We arrived in Tacoma on September 11th,,en,that was the day we found out about the EPA exemption letter which Ronald,,en,that day,,en,told us it could take up to,,en,to,,en,business days,,en,We called Ronald twice and we explained him everything,,en,He was polite and said he would do his best to send the letter as soon as possible,,en,And he did,,en,but anyhow we only had the car after,,en,days,,en,which counts at least,,en,business hours or,,en,hours,,en,straight,,en,Again,,en,we know you have the right to make mistakes but you cannot simply take the chances by making an assumption by your feeling,,en,You should have shared it with us and we would decide to take or not take the chances,,en,We almost missed some parks for a couple of days and we actually missed one,,en,it is our planning and you have nothing to do with that,,en – that was the day we found out about the EPA exemption letter which Ronald (that day) told us it could take up to 7 to 10 business days. We called Ronald twice and we explained him everything. He was polite and said he would do his best to send the letter as soon as possible. And he did, but anyhow we only had the car after 6 days (4 business days) which counts at least 96 business hours or 144 hours (straight)! Again, we know you have the right to make mistakes but you cannot simply take the chances by making an assumption by your feeling. You should have shared it with us and we would decide to take or not take the chances. We almost missed some parks for a couple of days and we actually missed one. Again, it is our planning and you have nothing to do with that, but you sure needed to be clear to us in what we have hired your services,,en,Talking about that,,en,what we do or dont’t is also our own problem,,en,whether we have fun or not,,en,We believe it is very disrespectful and nonsense what you commented about our country,,en,Brazil,,en,maybe in retaliation on our comment about the delay and US’s EPA bureocratic process,,en,It has nothing to do with our specific situation,,en,If exporting to Brazil is difficult,,en,it is not related to what happend to us,,en,we do not want to mention anything concerning Leonardo,,en,in his respect,,en,once the issue you have had,,en,regards to you and them,,en,not us,,en,To sum it up,,en,You did a good job in Cartagena’s process,,en,But you have to admit your mistake in our process in the US,,en. Talking about that, what we do or dont’t is also our own problem, whether we have fun or not.
3) We believe it is very disrespectful and nonsense what you commented about our country, Brazil, maybe in retaliation on our comment about the delay and US’s EPA bureocratic process. It has nothing to do with our specific situation. If exporting to Brazil is difficult, it is not related to what happend to us.
Also, we do not want to mention anything concerning Leonardo (Infinita Highway) in his respect, once the issue you have had, regards to you and them, not us.
To sum it up. You did a good job in Cartagena’s process. But you have to admit your mistake in our process in the US. You took the chances and did not share the risks with us,,en,What you can’t do,,en,however,,en,is to offend us,,en,by anyhow,,en,We respect your right to write in our page,,en,but as long as you don’t be offensive or disrespectful to us,,en,which you already have been in this comment,,en,we don’t want to discuss this issue anymore,,en,as we did not answer your rude e-mail on September,,en,precisely not to take this matter any longer,,en,As you said,,en,and so we want to let it in the past,,en.
What you can’t do, however, is to offend us, by anyhow. We respect your right to write in our page, but as long as you don’t be offensive or disrespectful to us (which you already have been in this comment).
Again, we don’t want to discuss this issue anymore (as we did not answer your rude e-mail on September) precisely not to take this matter any longer.
As you said, bad things happen, and so we want to let it in the past.
Expedition 4×1
How nice that all this happened in Seattle! It is a city that marked you. And it is no less, peculiarities are that it has cativantantes. This post was one of the most exciting trip, at least so far. The account of the reunion was fantastic with Tanajura, for us it is a “pick up”, but for you it is a beloved “pet”. But the highlight was meeting with family Valentine, was either “heat” you would need to face the fearsome “cold” do Alasca. Acredito this, after 4 months away from those you love, each received a refill of affection, love and attention for having the strength to face the challenges that would come. Neste relato, very well written, you could spend a feeling that you is true and peculiar. Thank you and CONGRATULATIONS Valentine family for everything and for you to contemplate over this “stretch” emocionante.Continuamos traveling this journey together. Big kiss to all and stay with God. Friend and admirer Tide.
Oi Tide, okay? Really, you managed to encapsulate that feeling all too well: Family Valentine gave us a huge dose of affection and also a boost to conquer that which was one of our major goals as “expeditioners”!! Thank you for fellowship and to monitor our emotions always!! A big hug from all of us!!
Boys! EXCITING this is sooo amazing post about Seattle and Family Valentine. Rebecca and James are really special! And an amazing city Seattle!
Quanta story !
It… Andrew…Congratulations; Health and Congratulations !
Thank you very much, Giselle!! We think this word (“exciting”) translates quite the experience we had there! Ahh, André welcomes congratulations!! Kisses
Muito legal! These friendships that we are on the road forever! And congratulations Tanajura! Uhuuuuuu! Alasca here you go! = )
Or Grace, okay so? That's right, are these sensational experiences that will leave an impression on us and make us want to travel more and more and more hehehe!
Soon the post of the Alaska Highway and then ALASKA!!! XOXO!