Borscht, anyone?

"Wanna go to Budapest next week?" Delta asked. I beamed.

Which means, darn life, that I had to apply for a visa. Getting a visa is all about being street smart and country wise.

Everytime you need a visa, the first thing to do is check whether, with your citizenship, you're exempt from needing a visa. Right? Except when you're Indian, and then you should assume you DO need a visa. But still, as a testament to my tenacity (naiivete?), I always check, my heart brimming with hope. Pore over the list of nationalities exempt. Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Israel,... no, not India. Glared at Brunei. How'd they get on the list anyway. Sigh.

After having once experienced queues of 500+ people for a Spanish visa, I've learnt to outsmart the crowds. Must get there early. Must get there early. So I reached the embassy half an hour before it opened, enthusiastic young whippersnapper that I am, determined to be the first in line. And I was. First in line, I mean. There was no one else around. I double-checked the address, yep, I'd got it right. Looked left and right up the street, nobody around at all.

To go for a coffee? I was dying to go for a coffee. But I knew, I knew, if I went for that cup, that's exactly when the crowds would come. So I whipped out my novel, planted my feet firmly by the embassy door, and took my spot in line. Minutes ticked by. Slowly. S-l-o-w-l-y. S-l-l-o-o-w-w-l-l-y-y. Nobody else joined the line. But I maintained my reign at the lead. Stuck to my guns.

I guess I was the only one who wanted a visa to Hungary that day. So I waited in line for half an hour for a visa application process which took less than two minutes.

But now, I'm off! :)