Pre-departure Preparation

Well, I absolutely cannot believe I am leaving in about a week. It is funny how you can consume your mind thinking about something so far in advance and then when the time comes you feel like you haven't thought about it at all.

Do I have enough money? I hope so... Do I know everywhere I want to go? Definitely not. Did I get all of the required documents, vaccines, etc? Just barely.

Quick sidebar on the Houston Brazilian Consulate. Do not take anything they have published on their website, recorded on their automated voicemail, or dictated to you by the man behind the consulate table to heart.

When I arrived at the Houston Consulate with my two manila folders full of Amanda and my official documents, I was under the impression we could receive a visa within 24 hours (according to the website). I came bearing a whopping $270 in US Postal Service money orders, feeling fairly confident I was all set to go to receive my visa. Fortunately I had learned the cost online, as opposed to "my friend" in the waiting room who had brought the wrong amount based on the automated voicemail. Anyways, I begin to hear a rumble that there is a ten day waiting period to receive your tourist visa. Great... exactly ten days from the date is my departure and of course you can only pick up your visa from 4-6p. So, basically I would be screwed. They take your passport to issue the visa, so I would not be able to leave the country without it.

So, I put my personality to work by basically begging the "seemingly nice" man behind the desk to expedite my visa.. "highlight it, star it, isn't there anything you can do to help me out???" desperation.. His answer was no, absolutely not, you can take a chance and turn it in for possible early release, but definitely no guarantee. Brazilian beach towns, Rio, Iquazu Falls, were all running through my mind, because in case you didn't know, you can not apply for a visa at a port of entry. It is a definite pre-departure component. So when the door to the back office opened it was 100% necessary to stick my head through the door and with my rusty spanish ask "Puedo hablar con el jefe porfavor????" As I shuffled through the office door, Brazil felt a slight bit closer. I ended up piecing together a conversation with a Portuguese speaking Brazilian despite the echoes of "No, No es possible" from the "friendly man" at the front desk, and amazingly managed to get our visas expedited. We pick them up on Jan 29, the day before we leave.. Better late then never I guess.

Oh, and one more addition to this "typical Laura" story. So, I am leaving the consulate, relieved yet still all wound up and somehow I end up in the service elevator. No problem right, until it gets stuck and I have to press the alarm. Never done that before. I guess its the first of many more firsts to come on my South American adventure.

Needless to say, South America here I come!!!