RTW: Exchange in Chile

Up the creek without a paddle

Or, as in this case, up the Amazon without a passport. The quality of Finnish passports sucks. The passport was in quite ok condition (and believe you me, I checked it VERY carefully before this trip) and now the first page is almost torn away. Good thing I only need to take a national flight tomorrow, maybe the official won't notice it or care about it.. keeping my fingers crossed! But get this: I was actually adviced to tape it togther so it will not break totally!!! In my book that could be considered as forgery, wouldn't you agree?

I was, as you might guess, I little bit worried there for a while. Good thing what Finnish officials lack in passport-making they make up at service and efficiency. The embassy being located in the capital, Brazil (why, oh WHY was that city ever created!?!?) there is only a consulate in Rio. But the person working in the consulate deserves all the credit she can get. From the instant "I do not know, maybe you should try to get to Venezuela with that passport and hope it is accepted" she worked to change the answer to "we will get you the new passport to Manaus in less than a week". She is a lifesaver, I can breathe again.

Now I'm treating my passport like a piece of fragile parchment to get to the Amazonas to wait for a new one there. I'm really looking forward to the next month now. It is a little sad to be travelling alone again, I kind of got used to having the better half with me, but a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do..

posted by Kassu @ 5:16 PM