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Friday September 3, 2021
So I was awake at 2am and walking the dogs as usual at 4:30am. Then I rushed through chores so I could prepare documents to present our case to the powers-that-be at the Cancilleria in Pereira....
Miguel was here at 8:45am, I had already picked up sufficient cash for today's needs, so we parked his car inside and were off at 8:50am. At 9:50am we were in Pereira following WAZE on an easy route to our destination. I drove all the way there, and back. I am not an easy passenger, especially with a Latino driving, and knowing I have the most basic insurance.... Sorry, but they have no idea what lanes mean and traffic circle rules.
We arrived an hour early for our 11:30am appointment made by our emigration guru, Luz Dary. I was surprised that there were basically no lineups and the fellows manning the place spoke to us at will, figuring out my sad story... Then the bad news hit that our main reason for the trip was negated by the inability of Luz to make the necessary documentation to pay my expired visa fine because the Govt system is down..... I was fuming, but kept my cool, these guys were being as helpful as possible under the circumstances. Miguel was great as my go-between and interpreter, liaising wonderfully with everyone involved.
So we went for lunch 3 blocks away and I managed to quickly get a Certificate of proof of my local health insurance WhatsApp'd to me and forwarded on to Luz...
Then it was a short drive to Luz's office in the center of town. It boiled down that the nasty fine business may not get resolved for 1 to 3 months. The fine is excessive but I have only myself to blame for not reading the rules correctly... So... that next visit will again be to pay the fine, and I then get a permit to be in the country pending the Visa approval. Then we apply for the Visa. Luz will send my passport to Bogota for them to add the Visa page, and then, within 10 days, we must get the cedula issued in Pereira. It will be a numbing process,... and you all know how much I love Govt red tape.....
So we sat down at her desk and gave her all the documentation she needs for now, and paid her reasonable fee in advance. She does do good work. The Government inefficiency is not her fault. So now we wait for the word to return to Pereira to again try to pay the fine.
She needed better passport photos with a more white background so I worked my magic when I got home and that is another item off the list.
I hope you enjoy the pictures. That was the day’s excitement.
Al
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| I actually love the drive north. |
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| South Pereira close to the Cancilleria |
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| The mugshot |
