A 90 minute delay in boarding came with benefits. The fellow from Edmonton with whom I had been chatting for the last hour had an early boarding pass and invited me to tag along. Oh my, just hit me, that was a deja vu moment! The flight was smooth and we landed just over an hour late. With minutes to spare I made my Istanbul flight; my luggage did not.
The silver lining is that they will have to deliver it to my hotel later today. That means I can now ride the subway without having to lug those 42 pounds along the way!
From the Mediterranean Sea to the Pacific Ocean, this is my first "round-the-world" tour and the first time I am traveling alone. It's also the first time I am NOT the leader of the group. This will be a huge adventure for me, one that tests my patience (smile), stamina and my ability to adapt. I can't wait!
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Newark to Toronto
An early arrival at the airport rewarded me with an upgraded standby seat on an earlier flight to Toronto. What a cool airport. Totally modern with technology all over the place. Several of the cafes have iPads at each seat to order and surf the net while you wait. What a cool way to avoid human interaction!
Twas the end of Passover and the airport was swarming with lots of Jewish families returning home...a sea of fur felt, wide brim hats and ladies in stylish wigs...and LOTS of kids.
My seven hour layover included a lot of people watching, the movie "Beginners," (rent it. Chris Plummer and Ewan McGregor are great), and a really good dirty martini...or three. Ask for Doug at the Bacardi Rum Bar!
Twas the end of Passover and the airport was swarming with lots of Jewish families returning home...a sea of fur felt, wide brim hats and ladies in stylish wigs...and LOTS of kids.
My seven hour layover included a lot of people watching, the movie "Beginners," (rent it. Chris Plummer and Ewan McGregor are great), and a really good dirty martini...or three. Ask for Doug at the Bacardi Rum Bar!
A night in Newark, New Jersey
United's flights to Denver and then on to Newark were great. I got a free upgrade to Economy Plus (more leg room and a free drink) in exchange for trading seats with a large family.
I booked a cheap hotel in Newark and got exactly what I asked for...will not be placing any luggage on an upholstered surface tonight! The strip club next door served a good burger. Tomorrow is a long day as I hop around on Air Canada making my way to Istanbul.
I booked a cheap hotel in Newark and got exactly what I asked for...will not be placing any luggage on an upholstered surface tonight! The strip club next door served a good burger. Tomorrow is a long day as I hop around on Air Canada making my way to Istanbul.
Saturday, March 30, 2013
San Francisco and Passport!
A sleepy flight from Anchorage to Phoenix and then on to San Francisco got me to my rental car and speeding down Hwy 101 to Monterey by mid afternoon. A bright gorgeous California day welcomed me to my home town where I visited withy uncle and cousin. Spaghetti and meatballs for Good Friday dinner. LOL.
Back on the road I headed to San Jose and my friend Z's home to pick up my passport! We spent a few hours catching up before getting back to the airport. I returned the car at 1AM and slept in the terminal until morning.
Back on the road I headed to San Jose and my friend Z's home to pick up my passport! We spent a few hours catching up before getting back to the airport. I returned the car at 1AM and slept in the terminal until morning.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Departing today WITHOUT my passport or visas...
Well, I said it would be an adventure! My visa was just approved this morning in Washington DC. I depart tonight so it can't be sent to my home address. With my layover in San Francisco, I have one last chance to get it in my hands before crossing the pond! The visa processing center is mailing it by FedEx Overnight guaranteed to Z's house in San Jose. I'll stop off there on the was back from my visit with family in Monterey. Yikes! This is cutting it way too close for any margin of comfort!
On pins and needles...and, oh yes, really excited at the same time
On pins and needles...and, oh yes, really excited at the same time
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Down to the last day...Turkmenistan!
I wrote emails, made calls, talked to consulates in three
countries, officials at two US embassies, and negotiated with both FedEx and
DHL. I fought the good battle. Yet, the Republic of Turkmenistan still
had not issued my Letter of Invitation and my time to obtain a tourist visa before
departing next week expired today. So...I was ready to surrender...oh great god of the visa
domain, your will would be done and I am but your humble servant.
I along with two Canadians, a Frenchman, and a Brit...all waiting...and looking at having to start it all over again once we arrived in Istanbul! In the words of dear Sonny, the hotel manager
of the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, “everything will be all right in the end... if it's not all right then it's not yet the end.”
I was already planning to depart Azerbaijan and head over to the Balkans for two weeks, resuming my tour once the rest of the group had left Turkmenistan and entered Uzbekistan. And then this morning, with only hours to spare, my Letter of Invitation has arrived. It will be a race to the finish line with only five days for processing and two days for return of my passport. It looks like this is turning out to be quite an “adventure” after all!
I was already planning to depart Azerbaijan and head over to the Balkans for two weeks, resuming my tour once the rest of the group had left Turkmenistan and entered Uzbekistan. And then this morning, with only hours to spare, my Letter of Invitation has arrived. It will be a race to the finish line with only five days for processing and two days for return of my passport. It looks like this is turning out to be quite an “adventure” after all!
Nine days and counting…
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
OK...starting to freak out...just a bit
Barely two weeks to go and no Turkmenistan visa! Yikes! Pulling out of my hat, every poor little bunny that exists. The folks at the tour company in the UK are proving to be less than helpful. They haven't been very forthcoming on the delay and to get this far, I have had to pursue them. Today I learned that there was a six week delay in getting the Letters of Invitation because of a religious holiday and political convention in Turkmenistan. Next Monday, the 18th, is my last possible day to get my visa processed and still insure that my passport will be returned to me in time to depart. Needless to say, I am now designing a Plan B, C, and D. Stay posted.......
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