Visa problems

Well, getting a visa to enter Moçambique is not so easy.Not because of the embassy, oh no! They are very hepfull, like the fact that you want to visit their country very much and do their best to process the appication within the limits of their law. So, if you inform first at the official websites of the Mozambiquean government you'll be okay!

But the mail. The mail... First I tried to send the passports to Brussels. By certified mail, because it's valuable. But, I misspelt the adress. Postal code 1400 instead of 1040. The rest was correct, but nonetheless it could not be processed. It went to Belgium, was labeled "incorrect adress", went to Amsterdam, was relabeled with "1000" as postal code and went to Brussels again, back to Amsterdam, Arnhem and Amsterdam to get resent to Brussels again. Luckily we were able to get it out of the process at Amsterdam, so it was driven from there to Brussels by my loving mother.

You then get the receipt from the embassy, like this

Nice one, isn't it?

Now for the way back. It was posted at Etterbeek postal office by the embassy. I got the track and trace number, so I looked it up: it left Belgium on friday, and it was now tuesday. That seemed strange, four days without it being processed... So I called and called. Bpost, PostNL, Bpost again. Eventually I found out, through someone at the Zaventem offices of Bpost: It went to England!

And there it was:

It's on its way? That's not a lot of information. So I called Royal Mail. They could tell me it had been sent to the Midlands, could not be delivered there, and is now on it's way back to Heathrow Airport. What's next? "Sorry sir, I couldn't say". So, I called BPost again, because I know they have a photoscan of the parcel. I asked for it, to see if it is in any way wrongfully adressed. I hope it goes back to Belgium soon, so I can pick it up. Or get it at Heathrow. Or anywhere.

Where I shall not be able to get. Because I do not posess my...passport.

Itinerary to Zomba

Preparations have started. Visa should be in the mail by now, although I can't reach the embassy of Mocambique at this point. They may be busy serving another satisfied customer. Our passports have been copied

so we should be able to go about our journey. By the way, does anyone now what "notarized"means for copies of a passport?

This post is to state our plans for the trip as they have evolved up untill now. We start by flying out from Amsterdam on the 31st (I dislike Schiphol but it was the easiest and cheapest choice) on an Airbus A380! I'm curious if it has really changed the experience of flying into flying a flying carpet. (Yes, it's Emirates).

We'll be waiting for connecting flights in Dubai (where I shall not drink, I promise, nor curse) and then we'll be on our way to Johannesburg, arriving there at 10.30 in the morning. I rented a car through http://www.pacecarrental.co.za/ , they were very helpful in getting me a bakkie (for more ground clearance needed on some accessroads to campsites and such) and the mileage needed for the trip at a reasonable price. They'll fetch us from the airport, I guess.

Next I'll go to Mr du Plessis, who so kindly gave us the opportunity to see Joburg through the eyes of a regular citizen by offering up his couch on http://www.couchsurfing.org. As did Eduarda in Maputo! I'd really like to get out on the road for Vilanculos on the 5th, so ity might become a hostel instead..

We'll travel to Maxixe or hopefully Inhassoro, and head out for Chimoio the next day. I hope someone has the timetable for the police escorts on the EN1 for us, latest news is they leave at 8.30 am at the Save bridge crossing.

 https://plus.google.com/114691798799265471121/about?gl=nl&hl=nl 

From Chimoio, where we hope to stay at the Pink Papaya to Tete should be a regular drive. Tete has a campsite next to the bridge, so that could be a pace to halt. Alternatively, if we progress very well, we might want to head for Blantyre or even Zomba on the same day. However, the stretch from Tete to Malawi seems to be potholed (anyone?) and the stretch from Blantyre to Zomba takes at least 1,5 hrs as roadworks are on the way.