Doing the Embassy Shuffle

It's been ages since I blogged, but I didn't want to jinx things ... waited until our passports were safely back in our hands.  Now it's time....

After our Patagonian tour we had planned 3 days in Lima to organise visas for Brazil in February. Not really enough time for the whole process but Zac said, "It will be fine.  I'll arrange someone to collect your documents for you and send them on to Cusco.  Don't stress."

So on our arrival from BA, we dropped our luggage into the hotel and headed out to the Brazilian Embassy - had all paperwork organised pre-tour.  Too late ... it was 1pm Wednesday - only open from 9.30-12.30 daily.  No problem, we'll do it tomorrow.  Wrong - Thursday was a public holiday.  Oh well, we still have Friday, before heading back to Cusco on Saturday. Time to enjoy Lima .... good restaurants and another parade!!

 

 

Friday morning, we were at the Embassy early, along with several other people.  At 9.30am we were allowed in, screened, and asked to sit in order on the benches - fifth in line wasn't bad....  The real shuffle began.  As each person was attended to, we were instructed to all move along the seats.  

Our turn - paperwork fine.  Payment required - $35.  Need to go and make that payment now and bring receipt back - 6 blocks down the road.  Off we go .... and back asap, aware that the queue was growing.  Rejoin the end of the queue, and wait.  As we were waiting we noticed others from earlier in the morning rejoining the queue - obviously after they'd been down 6 blocks to the bank.

Our turn again .... payment delivered.  Documents can be collected following Thursday (including our passports).  We left feeling we had achieved what we set out to do in Lima, but feeling a little uncertain about travelling without our passports.  But I had Zac's words in my ear -"It will be fine, mum."

We had previously passed a Star Peru office, so we considered early check-in.  Boarding passes printed - OK.  What about travelling with photo-copies of passports only -  Oh NO, you won't be able to travel without passports!!!!!!!

Zac's words, "Just try.  It will be fine.  It's an internal flight, no problem."  But in our minds we were making plans for an extra week in Lima.

Off to the airport extra early next morning, in case we had a lot of explaining to do.  Check in - passport photo-copies and driver's licence ID accepted!!!  Instructed to go straight to security control as there are long lines (we've seen that so we did as instructed).  NO queue at all .... good.  Passport photo-copies and licence ID accepted here too!!!

You were right Zac!!!  I could hear him saying "I told you so."

Finally on the plane even with our overweight carry-on luggage (shopping brought back for family).

Passports were picked up ... as arranged, and delivered to us a couple of days ago.  We have Visas for Brazil....  Woohoo  - Carnival, here we come!!!!