Not a nyet but not a da either
Trip Start
Aug 07, 2009
1
30
54
Trip End
Ongoing
Bishkek, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Monday, September 14, 2009
I'm off to the Russian consulate at the crack of dawn and get there at 08.15 for the 09.00 opening. There is already a very large queue waiting. Fortunately a young Russian woman tells me to put my name on the list otherwise I'd be still there wondering why everybody was being admitted before me and ranting about the need for proper queueing! At least there is a list and not chaos. I wait all morning until, finally, I get to the front of the queue. Well, second. They close for lunch! I meet Patrick by chance and we swop stories. He relates a story of an Australian friend who went to the consulate in Melbourne for a tourist visa and was told categorically "we do not want you!" I return to the consulate not in the most hopeful frame of mind.
I am back there in plenty of time for the 14.30 opening. I march boldly to the front of the queue. Visas, I am told by the security guard, are on Tuesdays (tomorrow) from 14.30 to 16.00. THANK YOU LONELY PLANET. I do a bit of meandering and get back to the lodgings to plan my strategy!!! for tomorrow.
If it is at all possible get all visas before you leave, DO. You can spend weeks trying to get them on the road. Time when you should be travelling. And, they are invariably more expensive.
