Visas and How Nobody in the World Actually Fully Understands Them...
You might be asking yourself, where the hell have these guys gone!?! No one has heard from them since they bought that Van!? So everyone, here is a little update.
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Trip preparations such as route planning, packing, vehicle preparation, fundraising and other adventurous undertakings are really fun! However, the task that seems to be consuming all of our time and energy these last few weeks is the paperwork. Paperwork, pile and piles of it! We need a Visa for every country east of Europe? Who knew it could take weeks to get this stuff together? What the hell is a carnet anyways? Here is what we have learned about getting a visa:
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1. Look up information on the web 2. Call the embassy to clarify, get the “real†information 3. Call another embassy to get more new, conflicting information 4. Remain confused about the application process 5. Spill all of your life secrets onto a poorly written application form that doesn’t even have enough room in those little boxes for your full name 6. Send Kevin running to the embassy, equipped with passports, applications, money and all of the info 7. Find out more new information that delays the process further 8. Be on high alert to make sure Kevin makes it out of the back room at the embassy. 9. Wait. 10. Wait more. 11. Get Visa. 12. Repeat.
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So far, using this fool proof method, we have obtained Mongolia, Russia and Kazakhstan visa’s and we are working on Iran (probably the sketchiest application process). After that we have to give Turkmenistan a try. However, it seems like no one can get their story straight on that one. We need a letter of invitation, we don’t need a letter of invitation, they do issue transit visas, they don’t issue transit visas. I don’t think we have managed to hear the same story twice! It might be time for the fall back plan, show up unexpected with big smiles and well practiced charades? We shall see…
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We were recently foiled in our quest to obtain seats for the Van. Someone else is apparently interested in purchasing seats for this practical and useful vehicle. Who has a Hijet in the UK anyways?!? Alas, there is something illegal about us all just piling into the back, so we have to keep looking!
-Steph =)
