Kenya Embassy - Round 1

My departure date is fast approaching... Feb 2nd to be exact. I am heading off to Germany for Feldenkrais Training then on to Kenya for Horseback Safari. This means that I have to get everything organized for both trips. Packing is going to be so much fun!

Finally booked my flight. Now have to get a visa to enter Kenya. First step, go to website and find out they have changed the system since last time. Next, fill out on-line application and fight with date boxes that want to blow out the web page. Decide I had better expedite visa as website says it will take 14 days - not good because I have to leave my passport WITH them while they process my visa.

Call Embassy and make sure I can make out one money order for both processing fee $25.00 and expediting fee $20.00 for a total of $45.00. Tell woman I am going to DRIVE my visa application to the Embassy today so I can get passport back sooner. No problem. Next print visa application and sign. Now get a money order and return paid envelope. Sooo...

Off to the Post Office for money order and Express Mail Overnight Delivery prepaid envelope. Hummm..... don't think I have ever purchased a money order before. OK got that sorted out. Now envelope... Put my address as both sender and receiver, that way if it gets returned it will still come to me. Write down tracking number as I can't remove the senders sheet since I am not actually sending it to myself. With the help of very nice Postmistress that is all sorted out.

Next off to Washington DC to deliver passport, application, flight details (which I had already printed out), money order and postage paid return envelope to the Kenya Embassy on "R" Street near DuPont Circle. Traffic not too bad, Googled directions and sent to my iPhone so I could find the place, parked in the driveway of the Embassy - yes you can drive right up -no security guards or streets blocked off, got out of the car and.....

Read the sign on the wall outside the Embassy:

Visa Office Hours 9:30am - 1:30pm.

Time now 3:00pm. To be sure looked up the Kenya Embassy website on iPhone and called. Yes, hours are 9:30pm to 1:30pm. Would have been nice if the woman I spoke to on phone this morning told me that when I said I was going to DRIVE to the Embassy to deliver my paperwork....

Got in car, drove through Georgetown to get out of city. Wondered to self why the only way I know how to get out of DC is to drive through Georgetown. No answer. Crossed bridge into Virginia, got on Route 66 West. Sat in traffic until past the beltway. Stopped at Wholefoods (where Emeril does his shows) to pick up a few things. Drove home.

Tomorrow drive to DC to the Kenya Embassy.....

Note to self: Get there before 1:30pm.