Invitation

I now know what my name looks like in the Cyrillic alphabet. I can't reproduce it here, but I DO now have my invitation, and when I arrive in Ottawa next week, will be a few steps closer to getting my visa.

What are these very ugly, dry, red spots all over my face?

Got Passport!

what more can I say? I got my passport, painlessly, no lines, no hassle. Well, other than the hassle involved over the past few weeks.

Changed flight plans from Comox to Ontario; I'm now going to Ottawa instead of London, and earlier than planned, and even that change only cost me $68 so it's not all bad.

The consulate in Ottawa may or may not be open on June 11, the day before the Russian national holiday of the 12th, when it most certainly will be closed. They will know, the woman on the phone told Steve, "maybe, by end of May".

consulate hours

Not only all that from the previous post, but the consulate will definitely be closed on the 12 June which is a Russian national holiday, and maybe also the 11th (the Monday before the 12th). So. Talk about getting down to the wire. I may end up not getting out of the country and owing a lot of people a lot of money for nothing...

my headache just got worse.

Anne

Visa and Invitation

After the passport is in my hands, I have to get an invitation to get to Russia. Once I have an invitation, I can apply for a visa. To apply for my visa, I have to go to Ottawa. Not the consultate in Toronto, the one in Ottawa, even though I'll be in Toronto, am flying out of Toronto. So, I fly to London, Ont, go to Ottawa, get my visa, go back to Toronto, and then fly out. Huh? you say? Really? You have to do all that?

I wonder why I have such an excruciating headache!

Help.

Diseases

According to my insurer, I might want to get inoculated against the following:

Japanese encephalitis
measles, mumps, rhubella
Hep A & B
Typhoid
Rabies (however, I had been planning to stay away from belfries)
tetanus

Yes, this is all very pleasing.

"Invitation" and Visa for Russia

To get a visa, I need an invitation. To get an invitation, I need to ... what? I'm still working on that. I could have got one easily from SLS had my passport arrived in time, but now it's too late. So I'm on my own. Great. More challenges. The fastest way to get a visa is to turn up at 9:30 am at a Russian consulate and get same day service. I think I can do that in Ottawa, Montreal, and maybe Toronto, but I'm not sure. It's hard to get clear information. I guess it has turned out to be a good thing that I'm going to Ontario for a couple of days before I leave.

How am I feeling about all this? Well, perhaps somewhat overwhelmed. I would rather be spending my time writing and editing and reading Daniil Kharms, not fretting about documentation. But I guess this is all part of traveling. And there I though I was being so smart by sending my passport application off for renewal in what I figured was LOTS of time! Ha! The joke's on me, and luckily I am pleased to have jokes played on me, especially when they involve my assumptions being overturned by reality.

Passport Woes (Almost Over)

I have heard from the Victoria passport office and I have an appointment for next Thursday to pick up my completed passport. I guess the Gatineau office faxed my application to Victoria, and it's as "easy" as that! Ha. I can't believe the feeling of relief I had when I answered the phone to talk to the Victoria passport office person, who was amazingly nice!

Okay, so my trip to Russia will then no longer be jeopardized by not having a passport. Passport means I can get an invitation, which means I can get a visa...oh, now I have to figure out how and where to get a visa...