Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Another "Adventure" - Part Two

We made good time to Arica, reaching the city after only a 3 1/2 hours' drive. Working off his memory from one prior trip, Pedro tried to retrace his steps to the bus station where we would pick up important forms for the border crossing. Unfortunately memory failed and we made a few turns around the city and a couple of cell phone calls before finally stopping for a potty break and directions at a local gas station.

Shortly thereafter we had forms in hand and if there is one thing I wish I would have known about prior to our trip, it would be those "blessed" (please note the tongue in cheek!) forms. Not one, not two ... but TWENTY-SIX forms to fill out with passenger names, passport numbers, travel plans, place of residence, etc. etc. etc. Two forms each per person for Chile, and one form each per person for Peru in addition to two forms stating the relationship of passengers to the driver of the vehicle.

We sat on the side of the road for a very long time with five very tired and antsy children filling out twenty-six very trite forms and it was very not fun.

Finally we drove the last couple miles to the border to learn that the "adventure" had only just begun ...

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