Day 113 (Iran): Tehran (will I get my visa today after all?)

So, this is the day of … what now? The day of reckoning maybe, the day my trip will take a sharp turn (meaning going back to Azerbaijan and try my luck there) or the day I finally get my 30 day Uzbekistan visa. The way it should be - not difficult as the last week or so have been.

I head back for the fifth time - I should have been there no more than twice really. There is a long line of people in front of the consulate, so I sign up my name on the slip of paper that I know so well (this is all a self-made way of organizing things by the people waiting outside, the consulate staff couldn’t care less I feel). Then I just plunk myself down, doing the good old waiting game. Eventually I talk to a girl who is waiting in line behind me and we get into this conversation about the dating game in parts of Iran. Her case is interesting to say the least. She tells me about her suitor who happens to be German-Iranian. She was approached by family members and ultimately refused. Not really my idea of romance, but hey … She felt that she should get to know the person better and that it was difficult to do so over the web. No kidding. There was lots of talk about Germans and Germany with all the stereotypes you can imagine (funny stuff that I hear about the serious Germans who never smile and the like).

Then it’s my turn … I take those darn steps again. Nervousness galore. The nice secretary takes my passport, I am trying to stay out of view of the consul as long as I can. Don’t give him any ideas. This is of course silly. Then he yells my name. No happy thoughts on my end, but I just give a neutral “Yes”. Then he asks for $75 (the legit price) and asks for the entrance and exit dates. Punches everything into the computer and out comes my visa. The guy taking my money pulls out his calculator and hammers 100-75 in several times. Not sure how often you do this dude, but it is 25. He was getting on my nerves … the frayed nerves that is. Move things along. I just want my passport back so that the consul can’t do anything with it … I fear he will take it back and laugh a sardonic laugh … yes, strange visions.

I get my passport and have … no feelings. I am not elated, just sort of glad that things worked out in the end. Then it’s something between this gladness and a slight hint at “gotcha”, but that passes quickly.

I must move on to the Turkmen embassy, which is of course closed by now. Darn, losing yet another day. My Iranian visa days are running short sort of. I meet Bastien there again, he is ready to pick up his visa and will head out of Tehran to explore central Iran (a bit too hot he and I think).

Spend the rest of the day just laying low and not doing much. Internet (until the power goes down as it does so often here in the country - in some places with detailed schedules to conserve power; some say that it is because of lack of spare parts, some because of bad management, yet others are conspiracy buffs claiming that the government literally likes to keep people in the dark [and not only in this regard]), swimming pool, good food. Just trying to calm down … it’s so darn necessary.