International Drivers license

A friend of ours who has traveled internationally for 20 years, suggested we get an international drivers permit for our upcoming trip to Europe.  Seems like an easy task when you are in the US but not so easy if you are in Bonaire.

Once again we set off to the drivers license office.  We asked to speak with Lionel, the head dude. He said they could issue the license.  

He sent us out for another scavenger hunt to get all the things we needed: passport picture and a receipt for the fee.  Sounds simple.  We went to the photo shop to get photos and the power went off in the store.  They asked us to return when the power came back on.  We went to the government office that issues licenses and idenfication cards to pay the fee.   They would not let us in the office without a appointment that has to be made on line.  We return home empty handed.

We made an appointment to pay the fee.  The first available time slot was August 2...two months from now! This office is the slowest, most under staffed office on the island.  Yet everything you need has to go through this office.  As a result it takes weeks and months to get anything completed from the government. 

We called the photo shop and the power was back on so we head back to get our photos taken. Paid our money and got 2 passport type photos.

Monday, we go back to see Lionel to get our international drivers license. Since we haven't been able to pay the fee we hope to talk them into giving us the license and trust us to pay later.  Doubt that will work.