In today’s episode we find our hero travelling to Jeddah in pursuit of an entry visa for his true love, Elizabeth. Jeddah, a sprawling metropolis of 5 million people and one lost American. After being separated from his interpreter our hero has to fight his way through two military checkpoints and through hundreds of visa seeking immigrants only to be turned away because …..he was at the wrong building.
Undaunted by this nasty twist of fate our hero and his faithful driver go door to door until an they come face to face with a friendly interpreter. Having learned the location of the correct building, our hero and his trusted driver once again brave the asphalt jungle in search of the all elusive visa. After many miles and many confused looks, our hero comes to the realization that he is indeed, lost again. The telltale sign of being lost is when your trusted driver rolls down his window and asks the taxi driver next to him for directions.
Directions secured, a new sense of hope comes to our merry travelers, nothing can dampen their spirits…..until we again roll down the window and ask another taxi driver for directions. Our hero, drained and depressed beyond belief continues to trudge onward. Not wanting to admit defeat but feeling defeated our hero is suddenly gladdened to hear his faithful companion announce we are now at the right building. Re-energized, they charge forward into the building and into a waiting line. After some time, they are informed that they are again…..in the wrong place. Happily the right place is around the corner and they rush to the right place.
Approaching the counter with reservations, our hero hands the paperwork to the attentive civil servant. Papers are shuffled, signatures checked, computer keys go clickity clack and……the clerk asks….did you pay the visa fee of 2000 SR? Our hero rebuffs, no, SAMREF paid it. The clerk retorts, no they didn’t, do you have a receipt? Through our hero’s quivering lips a meek response is uttered…..no. Having his hat handed to him a second time today, our hero is last seen leaving the sprawling city of Jeddah, the home of 3.5 million people……..
To be continued…….
Wednesday when our hero again returns to Jeddah……
TJ in KSA
Undaunted by this nasty twist of fate our hero and his faithful driver go door to door until an they come face to face with a friendly interpreter. Having learned the location of the correct building, our hero and his trusted driver once again brave the asphalt jungle in search of the all elusive visa. After many miles and many confused looks, our hero comes to the realization that he is indeed, lost again. The telltale sign of being lost is when your trusted driver rolls down his window and asks the taxi driver next to him for directions.
Directions secured, a new sense of hope comes to our merry travelers, nothing can dampen their spirits…..until we again roll down the window and ask another taxi driver for directions. Our hero, drained and depressed beyond belief continues to trudge onward. Not wanting to admit defeat but feeling defeated our hero is suddenly gladdened to hear his faithful companion announce we are now at the right building. Re-energized, they charge forward into the building and into a waiting line. After some time, they are informed that they are again…..in the wrong place. Happily the right place is around the corner and they rush to the right place.
Approaching the counter with reservations, our hero hands the paperwork to the attentive civil servant. Papers are shuffled, signatures checked, computer keys go clickity clack and……the clerk asks….did you pay the visa fee of 2000 SR? Our hero rebuffs, no, SAMREF paid it. The clerk retorts, no they didn’t, do you have a receipt? Through our hero’s quivering lips a meek response is uttered…..no. Having his hat handed to him a second time today, our hero is last seen leaving the sprawling city of Jeddah, the home of 3.5 million people……..
To be continued…….
Wednesday when our hero again returns to Jeddah……
TJ in KSA
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