Hi, everyone. I have crossed two days ago the Turkey Syria border at Nusaybin (Turkey), the second one crossing point coming from Irak, at the very northeast Syria corner. I tried to get syrian visa at Istambul as I did two years ago, but it is not allowed now for non turkish resident.

Small border but busy and chaotic. I used to leave Turkey one passport and a totally new one to go into Syria because I had been to Israel using the old one (even asking the Israel stamp out of it, the Syrians can realize because the Jordan stamp). But they didn't care about a totally new passport with no turkish exit stamp and I got transit visa with no problem. I costed 28 US$ and 38 more for Motorcycle insurance.

I found there 3 Americans and they got their visas aswell (they had to wait longer than me, maybe because I am Spanish and everybody love here the Spanish football teams).

I stayed at Ziad Hotel in Dayr az Zawar. 30 euros, 45$ or 2000 Syrian pounds. Clean and basic. Breakfast included.

Have fun if you come

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www.miquelsilvestre.com

Ok, going on about the Syrian info. If you leave the country, have to pay 550 Syrian pounds, about 12$ (1$=45 or 46 SP). I went into Lebanon. 48 hour visa is free. No import tax if you have CDP. No exit fee.

I got a new syrian transit visa at the border wich links Damascus and Beirut. 12 $ and really easy to get and 8$ plus for road tax even handling CDP.

Pic taken by Mr.Bing (Miguel Angel Anta)

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www.miquelsilvestre.com

Thanks Miguel for useful info.
What about taxes and costs if you don't have CPD?
2 years ago I was in Syria and Jordan and was thinking to visit Lebanon.
As usual no time for longer trip.

Save trip and more info

Bartosz

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Bartosz
www.wyprawy4x4.com.pl

Hi, Bartosz. I know Lebanon is possible without CDP paying import tax, but I do not know how much it is. Usually, customs soldiers ask for money even handling CDP, but there are big signals at Lebanese borders pointing no import tax with CDP, so you point at the signal and answer: NO.

About Jordan. There is just one border between Syria and Jordan and is always busy and chaotic. You get first CDP stamped, then get exit fee in a small hut (you willl recognize which one is it because the long queue), then foraigners depart desk in the new building (second going to Jordan). You are almost out. Go to the exit and find a long, long queue of cars and tracks. You split the lane and be ready to show your passport.

Jordan. First, get a paper from the cops who check your bike. Then get visa, 10 Jordan Dinar (12$), then insurance (3 days, 9 JD, 7 days, 18 JD), finally customs, 20$. You are in.

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www.miquelsilvestre.com

Keep on info about Middle East.

I told here how fast I crossed the Egyptian border coming from Aqaba.

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...038#post314371

Now, the small details.

Leaving Jordan I had to pay 13 Jordan Dinars (16 or 17$) to leave the country, plus 5 JD fine for being one day more than allowed. I bought 3 days insurance and the customs guys coming from Syria wrote it down on my import permit, but in arabic, so I couldn't realize. The fine for 1 day is same than for 1 week, and the price of 3 days insurance is 9JD, but for a week is 18JD, so I still saved 3 JD. It is up to you.

The big money spend starts when buying the tiket for the fast ferry (it took so long, so couldn't imagine how is the slow one that goes at night). They say you should buy tiket in Aqaba city but it is possible to get it at the port. I did it and paid using Visa card.

55$ (no JD) for the bike plus 50$ for me. If you want upper class, 20$ more. As the waiting is long, the restrooms are not so dirty and the climatized room, I highly recommend it.

Reaching Egypt, I paid a little fortune: 15$ visa, 25 pounds just in copys, 500 pounds (aprox, I do not remember properly because the big Chaos) for Import Tax, 100 pounds the plates, 60 pounds for 15 days insurance and 20 pounds more I do not why. 1 Egypt Pound= 5,5 $. There is an ATM which works on Visa cards and few exchanging offices.

But here we are, on Cairo Route 66

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www.miquelsilvestre.com

hola! Miquel,

I thought a cpd is needed for entering Egypt......(?) Or do you have one but dit not mention it in this part of your story?

And one egp = 0.17 usd. You wrote that one egp = 5.5 usd. :-) The 5.5 scared the hell out of me........500 pounds import tax........

He,he,he. Do not be afraid, I wrote wrongly the rate exchange. 5’5 Egyptian Pounds mean aprox 1$.
CDP is compulsory. No CDP, no Egypt. I did not mention it thinking is common knowledge. Sorry for that.

Egypt is worth to visit, and Siwa oasis is a great place, but look on the way all the time

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www.miquelsilvestre.com

Hi Miquel,

We are following your tour of the middle east and north africa with delight and impatience.

Regarding the problem you are having with fuel, I will summarise for everyone in case someone has a better idea.

Miquel wrote:
"When I was riding about 100-120 kms, suddenly, the
bike had a small failure on the gas injection, just half second, as
there was no petrol going the cilinders, and again it worked again.
The same happend few times, about 10 times, one every 20 or 30 km"

From my understanding and experience this is unlikely to be the fuel pump controller. When my FPC died there was no signs it just went and the effect was like running out of petrol. Although I don't rule it out entirely I suggested to Miquel to check the quality of the fuel and perhaps try an injector cleaner.

I also think that maybe he should check the air filter as pour air flow might also be a problem.

Has anyone got another idea?

FYI Miquel is riding a BMW R1200GS 06 or 07 model I think, so the fuel filter is not servicable.

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TurboCharger + Francois (our BMW R1200gs) '07
www.riding2up.net, blog.riding2up.net

Hi, I am in Libya, so I can tell now how is getting out Egypt from Salloun border.



First: at the Traffic Police, check vin number and egyptian plates and driver licence (they call it carte gris). Get copy of passport and driver licence (10 egyptian pounds for file). You go to other building to get some papers from custom (pay 2 egyptian pound and show then recipe) and a stamp on passport. Then go back to Traffic Police, give them back plates and driver licence and 4 Egyptian pounds, you get another recipe. Then go back to customs to get back triptick (CDP) stamped and ripped. Then go to Passport Control. Fill a form, pay 2 Egyptian pounds. Then show your stamped passport few times in few check points and you are out.

Going into Libya. As I had to pay a guide, he took care of everything and I got insurance, plates, visa and cdp in 15 minutes. FxxxxK expensive, but here we are, on the way back home. I got away with four cans of on my back pack even they checked everything using a scanner. Maybe didn't work, but I am gonna have a can right now.



By the way, my fuel problems finished as soon as I filled the tank with libyan petrol (cheap and good). Take care about the Siwa gas station. I think petrol was mixed with some oil or water.

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www.miquelsilvestre.com

enjoy the s!

Great to hear it was only petrol quality and not the bike.

So Tunisia next then?

Do you need a place to stay in Tunis? Let me know I have some family there.

Cheers,

Pascal

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TurboCharger + Francois (our BMW R1200gs) '07
www.riding2up.net, blog.riding2up.net

Hey Miquel,

Spoke a buddy of mine (dutch/indonesian) today who was in Aqaba. He told me he talked to a bunch of motorcycledudes from Egypt (harley guys) According to him he also spoke with two guys who were not Egyptian but were traveling along with the Egyptianmotorcycledudes to speed up the bordercrossingprocedures into Egypt.

Any chance he talked to you?

Best,

Willem

Hi, Willem. It should be me, but do not remember the dutch indonesian guy. That info was right, we were two non egyptians among the Cairo Chapter. Me and another Harley rider from Bahareim. Good guy.

But the fact is I should remember him. Only met a couple from Southamerica. I can not remember well his face, but I remember her perfectly. She was wearing shorts and thoose one were the only female legs I had seen for so long time.

Still haven't seen any more since then. Missing my girlfriend from Tripoli

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www.miquelsilvestre.com

haha, the pros and cons of travellingin the ME !!!

Tripoli Lebanon or Tripoli Lybia?

And for now something for in between gheh gheh

Hope there are no muslims on this forum, those legs are considered hard porn in Libya (and several other countries...) and utterly illegal. I love living in the west

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TurboCharger + Francois (our BMW R1200gs) '07
www.riding2up.net, blog.riding2up.net