golddog goes for a ride

They way visas work (at least in Brazil) are you apply through a third-party website. They gather necessary documentation, do an initial approval, and pass it on to the country's government for official approval. The third-party website is surprisingly good--my experience is that such things are difficult to use, so kudos to them.

I've been monitoring my application's status and saw this morning it switched to Approved!

Unclear if there is some physical document (or electronic which I need to print and bring) still to be provided, but I'm going to have a copy of this status page just in case.

Have several things to accomplish, but none major and I have almost three weeks to do them. Looking good!

According to the third-party website, there's supposed to be a pdf generated and sent to me. I need to bring a hard copy of that with me.

Haven't received the pdf. Not in a super time crunch (still two weeks from tomorrow). At the same time, don't want to wait til the last minute. So, figured I could start asking around.

Found an email address at the Brazilian consulate, and another on the third-party website. Sent off emails asking each if they could provide the pdf, or put me in touch with someone who can.

The email to the third party site got bounced because their mailbox was full. Grrr.

On the other hand, found the little VOIP phone app mentioned earlier, and it worked today. Well, at least they didn't hang up on me. Been on hold for about 20 minutes so far.

Of course, with zero indication of and expected wait time, or place in line, or anything. They do have some strange, but not unpleasant, hold music. An organ, a trumpet, a shaker, maybe wood blocks being struck for rhythm. Kind of a soft jazz maybe?

From the IVR voice, I'm guessing I'm calling India, which is a first for me.

As mentioned, I'd asked the Brazilian consulate if they could help at all. Got a response from them yesterday evening that they'd have to confirm, but had heard that the visa requirement would be pushed back from January 10. Also got an email from my travel agent saying she'd heard that from a cruise line with whom she does business.

Still, they have two weeks to push through the pdf, so it's still likely that I'll be able to go the normal route, but hopefully I have an out now.

Is frustrating that their system doesn't automatically generate this pdf. It's not trivial, but it's not much beyond trivial, that when someone hits 'approve', a process is started to run a report to generate the pdf, attach it to the application, and send a copy to the email address in the application.

It's not rocket surgery. Literally should be seconds, not days, to generate and distribute this document. Grrr.

Anyway, I'm going to blame any troubles on the tour company not standing by their advertised over-holidays tour dates, which would've kept me out of the visa requirement period.

Things moving along. Travel agent called the other day, she had some papers for me. Tour company sent her a printed itinerary and some other info instead of just emailing it. Sigh.

Picked up some Brazilian Reals while up there. Only majorish thing left is to get my malaria pills and tetanus shot, going tomorrow to the local Kroger pharmacy to order them up.

Then some minor packing and ready to go one week from Friday. It's getting close.

Happened to look at United's app to get flight info. Noticed that, at this point, I'm scheduled to be on a 737 max 8 on the last leg back, from Houston to Denver. (Other aircraft for the flights I booked---don't have info for the inter-tour flights).

Hmmm...that sounds familiar. Oh yeah, that's the aircraft that had the door plug blow out recently.

There's always a bright side, though. Since it's on the flight from IAH -> DEN, there's a pretty good chance it will go over Dallas. I know a guy in Fort Worth, I'll aim for his place after getting sucked out of the fuselage.

It'll be kinda like when the air accident happened in Breaking Bad. Hope he has the pool filled.

I’ll catch ya!

Isn’t the max 8 the one that kept nose diving a few years back? The door one is a max 9?

You're right, I guess I mistyped. Double-checking, it is a max 9 IAH->DEN.

Even better, it's a 737 max 8 from Miami to Manaus Saturday night. It's like running it twice! Only in reverse. :(

I was going to tell you that it wasn't so bad having that aircraft on your last leg as you wouldn't have missed any connections and your trip will have been completed (well, almost). But then you tossed in a surprise first leg adventure on your adventure.

Good luck and drop us a post card once in a while to let us know you have survived thus far and having a wonderful time. And don't even think about boarding that last plane to home! Boeing surely will have cleared everything up by then.

And then mark comes in with facts to deflate the adventure in your adventure. What a killjoy!

Hmmm, let's see. Choices are being stuck in Houston, or boarding an aircraft to Denver with a chance of the door plug coming off.

Guess I'm going to the airport!

Will try to post. Know for sure there's no connection while on the boat in the Amazon. Also, will have my travel laptop (i.e., crappy and underpowered, but clean on PII if it gets lost/stolen). So it might be tough. Also not sure how the internet is down there.

Final stay is Rio, right across from Copacabana beach, so that will probably have good connection if nothing else.

have fun and look forward to the stories

Bon voyage, Golddog.

Rio during Carnival?

Thanks, guys.

Nope, Carnival starts February 9. I think that would be too much for me. Not a crowds person, though it would probably be a spectacle to observe.

As mentioned elsewhere, I deal and play in a bar poker league, and a home game. They are fun groups, some decentish players. The playing of poker has lost most of its luster for me. I pretty much go for a night out, but really am just splashing around.

For reasons I can't explain, I've noted that I have a streak going. Last night marked my 14th consecutive time that AA has held up. Nothing super notable about this hand--I limped pre because there were two young, aggressive players behind me (figuring on the ol' limp-raise-shove trick). Nope, 5 or so limps, and I just took the betting up the ladder each street on a boring board, setting up a river shove to which all folded.

You know, the old "notice patterns where none exist" phenomenon.

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Anyway, had my first win of the trip this morning. Last night's forecast was a low of zero, but when I looked at the thermostat, it said 17 outside. Still will be cold at the bus stop, but not terrible (obv I'm not packing a winter coat to go to Brazil--just going to layer up).

So, it should be about 20 when I get on the bus in a couple hours, and about 75 when I get off the plane in Miami tonight. Tada!

Tom and mark, I see it's cold for you guys. I think your areas are less well-equipped for cold/snow/ice. Be safe, stay warm.

Looking at United's app, plane's on time (2:00PM flight, so it's probably not even here yet). I hate the stress involved with last-minute, rushing to meet a deadline. Have a United club pass, so I'll get out there super early, ease through security, sit in the club a while, then wander down to the plane.

Oh yeah, took my first anti-malarial today. Bring it on, mosquitoes.

Thanks for the wishes. We've got a couple of 20* on tap, but after that it's an early Spring here. At least for a week or so.

Wishing you no major complications in your travel connections, etc.

Have a blast! I'm already looking forward the the TR w/pics.

Made it to DIA, currently in the United Club. Flight in a couple hours.

Pretty good flight, smooth. Not super direct, went by Wichita, Tulsa, Montgomery, then turned S, following the W coast of FL ro Naples, then across the Everglades.

Touched down at 7:29, got to the gate at 8:10. Kinda sad about that, but here.

Now to get bag & get to hotel.

Bag pick up was pretty fast. Checked to make sure I could avoid picking up the rental til tomorrow, then caught the shuttle to the Hilton Blue Lagoon. It's a pretty nice hotel, I guess.

But just a bit off. For example, they warn you that the fridge is not a fridge, and should not be used to store personal items. But, call down to the desk, and they'll bring a fridge (for an extra charge). Charge for parking (hence the rental delay). IDK, for $200+, shouldn't the things a Super 8 provides be included?

Also, the "blinds" or whatever you'd call them don't block out the light. Grrr.

I happened to notice a Pollo Tropical within walking distance. Always like a walk after a long ride, so went down there for a late dinner. It's ok FF, what is sounds like--chicken with flavor of the Caribbean.

Pretty tired this morning. Walked out to the McBurgers for a breakfast sandwich. Cool, breezy, high clouds; pretty nice out.

Wandered back, started packing up, thought I'd fire up the laptop to check things. It decided I needed updates, which are now up to 22% ( been running ~30 mins).

Ofc, it warns me not to shut off. Kind of bothered, because I set it to not do updates til I return. Probably just downloading malware.

At this rate, I won't have to bother with the rental car.

Well, that's interesting. Update finally finished, go to leave and the door handle comes off in my hand.

After calling the desk for help, found the little set screw and was able to rig it up enough to get out.

Hopefully the developibg world will be better.

It's a test to see if you are resourceful enough to survive in the Amazon.

I think you're good so far. Stay alert!

Figured I'd check my bag, then go.

Found the GOL check-in desk. Nobody's around, but there are a couple self-service kiosks. No luck.

Figured I'd try at American, who is a partner. Tried, the helper came over and we decided that no, I have to check in with GOL.

I explained that there was nobody down there, but it's still way before the flight. She advised to come two hours early.

Back down here, has a sandwich and a coke, then tried the kiosk again. Seemed like it went through, but the last screen was half English, half Portuguese.

Got my dictionary out, seemed like it was telling me to wait for my boarding card. Waited, but nothing printed.

Hopefully somebody shows up in a few hours.

Skipping the rental car.

Also, MIA's wifi sucks.

People from GOL showed up about 1:15. While in line, got to talking to the young woman in front of me. She's a professional in the travel business, going to Manaus to try to arrange/get started on a rewards trip for some company (she couldn't say).

Living in Detroit, originally from Brazil, so she we able to give me some good ideas of how it will be. Anyway, that was a nice way to pass the time in line.

Now through security, about 1.5 hours til boarding. Should arrive just before midnight, The itinerary has me going on a tour of the city at 0700. While Manaus is small, figure I won't get through customs and checked in before about two, so will try to catch some Zs on the plane.

Miami's airport is outdated compared to Denver. For us, there's outlets everywhere, and the wifi is strong and reliable. Not so much here. For example, the first attempt at posting this, couldn't find the server. Apologies if this is a repost

Good flight to Mansus. Landed about 11:30, customs a breeze, met Sena who took me out to a car. 20 minutes here.

Still pumped from the travel, but it's almost 1 and we go for a tour of the city at 9:30. Might take a minibar beer, but it's Stella. I can get that anytime I want.

Just coming in, seems like a nice, kind of boutique hotel.

First, windows Photos sucks. It remember the sub-folder I created for this trip. shows me that's where a new import is going. Then (after failing once) puts them in the folder above the one I created and it showed me. WTF, if you're going to bother to remember it to display, [I]use that ****ing path/I] to import to. It really is that simple.

Anyway, had a window seat yesterday, which is not my favorite. But, saw this interesting effect (didn't really come out too well) where the top layer of thin clouds turned color.

As we were getting close, I saw the reflection of the moon on the top surface of the wing, but it didn't get low enough to get a picture of it. Might have been kinda cool to see it off the wing.

As mentioned, pretty nice place.

After breakfast, took a walk around the opera house, where they were having a car show.

Lots of old VW beetles, and some other stuff.

There was also a street fair sorta thing down the hill

Back to the hotel, where Sena and his driver came a little later and we went for a tour of the city. Several stops, where he told me about the building we were at, or a park we went by, or all the different kinds of things for sale in the market.

This market was imported from Edinburgh (or maybe Liverpool). We saw some of the original steel, with the point of origin stamped on it.

In one park, he pointed out an interesting plant--when you touched it, its leaves kind of folded up. Can't remember what he called it, something like sleeping plant.

Our last stop was the opera house, which is opulent.

Quite the history--from 1850 to about 1900, there were fortunes to be made and they did so. Then it collapsed. Apparently, today's industries are electronics, something else I don't remember, and tourism.

Afterward, I went upstairs and laid down for a little bit, then went down to the street fair. Found a coke, and a young guy making sandwiches, so that was a good lunch. Wandered into a grocery store and bought some beer for the boat.

This was down at the end of the street, near the river.

In the afternoon, went for a pretty long walk. Just wandering around, saw these sad-looking chickens but mostly just urban stuff.

Manaus reminds me of Buenos Aires or New Orleans--kind of European-looking buildings, lots of graffiti and trash about, general decay of the place.

Also, it's hot. And humid. But the people are real nice, even working through my language barrier.

Tomorrow at 11 Sena comes to take me over to the boat, so won't be updates for a while.

Wind just started blowing outside, not sure if it's raining or is going to, so there evening's agenda (as always) is to play it by ear.