Friday, April 20, 2007
Still Homeward Bound
We should have been in Belgium a long time ago, but something went very wrong and we had to spend a few days in Moscow and fly back to Kemerovo.
Everything went pretty well at first, even though we had to take our shoes off like everyone else at the security post at Kemerovo airport, notwithstanding the baby. We got a special crib on the plane, even though we were cramped as it was, and they even gave us a special bag with stuff for the baby (diaper, milk bottle, bib, moist napkins...). All in all, the flight to Moscow was a big success.
Our friend, Julia Kutepova, picked us up in her flashy blue Citroen C2, took Olga and Stefan home and dropped me off at the subway station.
When I finally made it to the embassy, it was 12 o'clock (I got just a little lost) and I was pretty scared that they wouldn't be able to get Olga's visa ready in time. It turned out my fears were completely unfounded, because at 1pm I was out of there with my new passport, Stefan's passport and Olga's visa. I wish everything was as simple and pleasant as dealing with the Belgian embassy!
Nothing much happened after that and we had a pleasant time with the Kutepovs.
We arrived at the airport around 6pm, because our flight was around 9pm and we had been told that check-in would start 3 hours in advance. And what do you know? We had to stand around for 1 hour before we could check in!
Stef didn't like this one bit and by the time we finally checked in our luggage, he was pretty worked up. But not to worry: all we had to do was pass passport control and find a place to feed him and await our flight, right? Wrong!!
As I stood there rocking my son to get him to shut up, the lady officer took a mighty long time inspecting our passports. When she said to Olga: “Your husband's visa isn't valid, he can't go”, we felt the earth crumbling beneath our feet.
After that, we spent some time recovering from the shock and consulting a number of people on what to do. Truth be told, they were all very helpful. The consul at the airport gave us the address of a place in Moscow where I should be able to get a new visa. So, we decided I'd go there first thing in the morning and we'd spend the night at the Kutepovs'. Our wonderful friend Julia braved Moscow traffic once more and picked us up again.
Next morning - in fact it was closer to noon by the time I got there - I was told in no uncertain terms that I could not get a visa in Moscow and that I would have to go back to Kemerovo to get it. Having consulted the nice people at the Belgian embassy and considered a few other (rather illegal) options, Olga and I reached the conclusion that there was nothing for us to do but fly back to Kemerovo and try and recuperate at least some of the money we spent on tickets. Unfortunately, our original flight was on Monday and the first flight with available seats was on Thursday!
So, we are now safe and sound back in Kemerovo and about to find out how to get a new visa (the legislation keeps changing and the offices keep moving). We have to do this ASAP, because we don't want to miss the baptism of my godson on May 1.
I'd appreciate it very much if you would all keep your fingers crossed and light a few candles.
To be continued.
P.S.: I would like to use this opportunity to thank Andrey and Julia Kutepov again. They're wonderful people. Not only did Andrey fix our banya last Summer
, we don't know what we would have done this time if it weren't for them. Special thanks to Sophia Kutepova, their 7-year-old daughter, who did everything within her power to keep our son happy.
Everything went pretty well at first, even though we had to take our shoes off like everyone else at the security post at Kemerovo airport, notwithstanding the baby. We got a special crib on the plane, even though we were cramped as it was, and they even gave us a special bag with stuff for the baby (diaper, milk bottle, bib, moist napkins...). All in all, the flight to Moscow was a big success.
Our friend, Julia Kutepova, picked us up in her flashy blue Citroen C2, took Olga and Stefan home and dropped me off at the subway station.
When I finally made it to the embassy, it was 12 o'clock (I got just a little lost) and I was pretty scared that they wouldn't be able to get Olga's visa ready in time. It turned out my fears were completely unfounded, because at 1pm I was out of there with my new passport, Stefan's passport and Olga's visa. I wish everything was as simple and pleasant as dealing with the Belgian embassy!
Nothing much happened after that and we had a pleasant time with the Kutepovs.
We arrived at the airport around 6pm, because our flight was around 9pm and we had been told that check-in would start 3 hours in advance. And what do you know? We had to stand around for 1 hour before we could check in!
Stef didn't like this one bit and by the time we finally checked in our luggage, he was pretty worked up. But not to worry: all we had to do was pass passport control and find a place to feed him and await our flight, right? Wrong!!As I stood there rocking my son to get him to shut up, the lady officer took a mighty long time inspecting our passports. When she said to Olga: “Your husband's visa isn't valid, he can't go”, we felt the earth crumbling beneath our feet.
After that, we spent some time recovering from the shock and consulting a number of people on what to do. Truth be told, they were all very helpful. The consul at the airport gave us the address of a place in Moscow where I should be able to get a new visa. So, we decided I'd go there first thing in the morning and we'd spend the night at the Kutepovs'. Our wonderful friend Julia braved Moscow traffic once more and picked us up again.
Next morning - in fact it was closer to noon by the time I got there - I was told in no uncertain terms that I could not get a visa in Moscow and that I would have to go back to Kemerovo to get it. Having consulted the nice people at the Belgian embassy and considered a few other (rather illegal) options, Olga and I reached the conclusion that there was nothing for us to do but fly back to Kemerovo and try and recuperate at least some of the money we spent on tickets. Unfortunately, our original flight was on Monday and the first flight with available seats was on Thursday!
So, we are now safe and sound back in Kemerovo and about to find out how to get a new visa (the legislation keeps changing and the offices keep moving). We have to do this ASAP, because we don't want to miss the baptism of my godson on May 1.
I'd appreciate it very much if you would all keep your fingers crossed and light a few candles.
To be continued.
P.S.: I would like to use this opportunity to thank Andrey and Julia Kutepov again. They're wonderful people. Not only did Andrey fix our banya last Summer
, we don't know what we would have done this time if it weren't for them. Special thanks to Sophia Kutepova, their 7-year-old daughter, who did everything within her power to keep our son happy.
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