The house on the hill... Hungarian hospitality at its very best...!!
At the beautiful home of the Molnar’s, I have been so well looked after, that it is difficult to believe that I met this couple only two days ago…!! I have sampled Panni’s wonderful cooking, as well as their stock of Pear Schnapps known as Palinka, which has just as strong a kick as the Polish Paint Stripper I had in Warsaw…!!
Tibor very kindly took a day off work, and escorted me to the Embassies of both Iran and Pakistan where I applied for the visas I would need in the near future. Both Embassies advised that they would require at least three weeks to process my application, which was the worst kind of news…!!
At the Iranian Embassy, I was interviewed by the Consul, Mr. Morteza Szeirafi… I had earlier greeted him in Arabic, and had seen surprise in his eyes when I did so…!! I explained my journey around the world to him, and handed him my card so that he could verify my story by visiting my website… He was genuinely interested in what I was doing and asked a few questions about the countries I had already visited…
“Usually the process takes a few weeks,” he advised, “but call me in two days and I will give you further news…”
I thanked him in Arabic before leaving, and the kindly smile he gave me, made me believe that he would do his best to assist me with a visa… The question was how long it would all take…!!
The Pakistan Embassy staff were very helpful and friendly… My passport and card were taken upstairs to the Consul, who after a while, requested that I come up to his office for an interview… He listened to my story, then suggested that I make the application in Budapest, and if the visa was granted, I could collect it in Istanbul or Ankara, in a few weeks time…
The Terminator... The Molnar's cat keeps a lookout for anything that needs exterminating..
I had to be satisfied with this and hoped that my application would be sent to Pakistan as quickly as possible, as I did not have too much time at my disposal once I reached Istanbul… I had to make a quick foray into Syria, Lebanon and Jordan, before crossing into Iran… I am also keen to ride into Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan…!!
And winter is approaching…!! Dariusz and Ken had “skated” down the mountain pass between Iran and Turkey, in temperatures of 10° below freezing…!! Ice covered the road, and snow lay thick on the ground around them… I recalled the photos Dariusz had shown me in Poland, and shuddered to think of the struggle they had to clear this hurdle…
The following day, Panni drove me to the Indian Embassy, where I was told that they too needed a few weeks to get approval from India, and needed to do a background check on me before they could issue a visa… The Consul who interviewed me suggested that I wait until I get to Istanbul, and apply there… If I had my Iranian and Pakistan visa in hand by then, it might take only a few days to process…
After a call to the Iranian Embassy on Wednesday morning, Tibor was advised that my visa was ready, and that I could collect it the same day…!! We were both amazed by this bit of news, and Panni drove me across the city to the embassy, where Mr. Morteza Szeirafi himself, took my passport and returned it a short while later with the visa firmly stuck inside it…!!
My Iranian visa, issued in record time...!!
“I have given you 15 days to complete your ride though Iran, and you must ensure that you exit the country before the 14th of December…!!” he advised…
I recalled a news item about an American girl who had wandered into Pakistan without the proper documentation, and was still languishing in an Iranian jail for her efforts… I would make very sure that my entry and exit from Iran fell within the period granted to me…!!
When I walked away after thanking the Consul for his kind and efficient handling of my application, (receiving a warm handshake and a smile in return), I realised that I was actually going to ride through Iran…!!
Up until now, I and many others considered it a bit of a long shot…!! The night before the visa was issued, I had begun considering whether it would be best to fly the Big Fella directly from Istanbul to India, or even Australia, and forget about riding down through the Middle East and South East Asia…
That thought had now been banished from my mind, and I could finally begin planning the 4th phase of my journey, which would take me through the Middle East and South East Asia…
Fingers crossed for my Pakistan and Indian visas…
Tibor and I enjoy a moment on the terrace after another round of sight-seeing...
GBWT 2010
It makes you wonder why it takes so long normally if it could be done so easily in two days. I suppose, as in any government job, it would be sinful to be efficient.
Glad you got your visa though and that your lip looks a lot better in your Visa photo.
Finally, you managed to get through to HQ – I hope they gave you all the necessary spy equipment, Mr Bond!!!!!
Hey Ron – haven’t forgotten you, still all reading your up-dates on a daily basis. Glad the lip came down, that looked pretty scary! Sounds like you’ve met some fantastic people – again. Think of you often. Keep well. xx
Glad you got your Visa squared for Iran!!! Hope the Pakistanis and Indians are so helpful!