"Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained!" Quote from my Dad, Richard Martin
Ok, tried to save some significant money by getting the Tourist Visas directly from the individual country embassy. ( Added we could save over $1,000, getting Visas without a middle man). I started with Ethiopia, as that country is the main focus of our trip and they always seem so kind and easy going. Well, as for the application, it was straight forward and simple enough to send directly to the embassy in Washington, D.C. However, the package of passports, (5 in total ) were delivered to the Ethiopian Embassy in D.C. on September 9th, and what was supposed to be a 2-3 business day turnaround, turned out to be weeks! Finally, we received the passports with Ethiopian tourist Visas on September 25. No major drama but the delay did put me behind the eight ball on getting the other needed Visas. Ethiopia here we come!
INDIA VISA HELL! THE APPLICATION, THE DIRECTIONS, THE INSTRUCTIONS, THE DETAILED ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS, THE DON'T MESS THIS STUFF UP INSTRUCTIONS. I definitely had to use a Visa service to lessen my stress. The trip starts in less than 40 days and I need those passports in my grubby little hands. The documents needed are attached, the birth certificated notarized and translated, the specific, almost intrusive questions are answered, and my brain hurts. I definitely feel liked I've work a dozen mind puzzles. Finally, at 9 pm after working all day on five different visa applications--- they are copied in triplicate and ready for the mail tomorrow morning. Oh, how I can't wait to get to India, one of my dream locations!
When and IF the passports return in a timely manner, I can move on Tanzania, Zambia .....forget about Vietnam that one will have to be done while we travel!
I guess this is just another lesson in patience.
