It's been a strange 6 weeks, travelling abroad without passports. As you know our intention this summer is to travel to St. Petersburg, in Russia, via Belarus. Both of these countries require a visa and taking Jon and Linda's advice we used a company called Real Russia to organise this for us. The Russian Visas can only be issued in London with a maximum of 45 days permissable before the date of entry. As we wanted to be away from the UK at the 45 day point we sent the documentation back to their office in June, together with our passports. When all completed we would advise Real Russia of our location so they could send them via DHL and we could pick them up. Our friend Ellie rang DHL for us in Germany to find out the nearest office to Gorlitz, where we thought we would be. It transpired from this call that secure delivery can only be made in Germany to a postal address. There is no such service for collection. Mike didn't believe it, so I rang DHL in London. They told me that we could collect our packet in Hamburg, only 500km in the wrong direction. Ellie rang tourist information in Gorlitz, but they wouldn't take the responsibility and the private tourist information number they gave us was unobtainable. A quick Google search provided us with the name of a campsite near Gorlitz, perhaps they would agree to sign for our envelope? They readily agreed to have it delivered to their house, but this was still a worry. What if there was no-one in? What if we didn't get there or were delayed? They didn't speak any English. Could they really be trusted? Ellie reassured me:
"Ali, they sound like a really nice family run campsite, I'm sure everything will be fine"
So, we arrived at the campsite on Monday morning, I used Google translate to explain we had a packet being delivered, the next day. Herr Franke understood, remembered the call from last week. I emailed Real Russia, our passports, together with Jon and Linda's were on their way. Nothing could go wrong now. I tracked our parcel with DHL (amazing technology) I followed it to Heathrow, Leipzig, Dresden, then it was with the courier from 06. 48am on Tuesday. At 12.38 it had been delivered. I translated and wrote it on a piece of paper to show Hr. Franke,
"We have had a message from DHL to say our packet has arrived and been signed for. Can we cycle to your house and collect it?"
After all, we knew where he lived. Herr Franke shook his head,
"My woman" was all he said as he gesticulated using a steering wheel with his hands. As he said it the car pulled in to the campsite and she handed me the envelope. I opened the packet. 2 passports, not 4. NO. Ours were all in order. We phoned Jon and gave him our news. After a few moments of disbelief. (Mike can wind people up, let's face it.)Real Russia were brilliant, the Franke family didn't mind, so we waited an extra day. And what a great location to have to wait at.
"Ali, they sound like a really nice family run campsite, I'm sure everything will be fine"
So, we arrived at the campsite on Monday morning, I used Google translate to explain we had a packet being delivered, the next day. Herr Franke understood, remembered the call from last week. I emailed Real Russia, our passports, together with Jon and Linda's were on their way. Nothing could go wrong now. I tracked our parcel with DHL (amazing technology) I followed it to Heathrow, Leipzig, Dresden, then it was with the courier from 06. 48am on Tuesday. At 12.38 it had been delivered. I translated and wrote it on a piece of paper to show Hr. Franke,
"We have had a message from DHL to say our packet has arrived and been signed for. Can we cycle to your house and collect it?"
After all, we knew where he lived. Herr Franke shook his head,
"My woman" was all he said as he gesticulated using a steering wheel with his hands. As he said it the car pulled in to the campsite and she handed me the envelope. I opened the packet. 2 passports, not 4. NO. Ours were all in order. We phoned Jon and gave him our news. After a few moments of disbelief. (Mike can wind people up, let's face it.)Real Russia were brilliant, the Franke family didn't mind, so we waited an extra day. And what a great location to have to wait at.
View of the lake at the campsite near Hagenwerder
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