I finally misplaced rely — of the items of paper, that’s. My household goes to Greece on vacation later this 12 months. We’re very lucky, I do know, however for the privilege of strolling previous the immigration counter at Athens Worldwide Airport Eleftherios Venizelos Worldwide Airport, we lately had the unmitigated pleasure of taking a day without work work to lug a folder of papers — together with arcane paperwork requested absolutely for amusing — and three souls to the sixth flooring (or was it the sixth circle of hell?) of a Cape City workplace block.
Chastised, grateful and penitent, we bent the knee to the type man behind the desk and hoped like hell our Schengen visa could be permitted. For the pleasure, we handed over a couple of thousand of our hard-earned rand — cash that wouldn’t be spent on seaside dinners, gyros eaten within the Athens Plaka, or glasses of Assyrtiko on the golden shores of Skiathos.
I do know I’m taking part in the world’s smallest violin right here, and the enjoyment of sharing abroad journey with my household is to not be sniffed at. However to be trustworthy, I’m undecided I’ll do it once more in a rush. I might slightly save these bucks for the nations that welcome us Saffas with open arms, that don’t ask for hoops and crimson tape, and that say, “Welcome! Please come and spend your cash right here.” And I’ll do it gladly.
