EricBidwell.Com

This past Friday I ordered my passport, it was pretty difficult to figure out how to get it done fast. After finding out that most post offices that do it stop at 15:30 in the afternoon and require an appointment a couple weeks in advance, I finally found out that I could just do it at the same place I was going to get my birth certificate, and until 16:30.

I ran, and rolled, up to the County Administration Center at 1600 Pacific Highway a couple minutes past 16:00. After a couple minute delay emptying my pockets for the the metal detector and checking my knife (which I forgot and need to pick up tomorrow) I went to room 260 to get my birth certificate. After waiting about a minute for one person ahead of me, turning in the application, showing my CA ID, and paying $17, I was told that I'd have to wait about ten minutes.

While I was waiting for the Birth Certificate to be made I crossed the hall to Room 273, where you get marriage licenses, and had my photos taken for the passport. I again waited for about a minute. At the counter I signed in, paid $10, and was told to meet the clerk at the other end of the room. Still sweating from the rushing I took my hair down and blindly tried to make it look presentable. The clerk than had me sit in a chair and took a single picture with a double-lensed camera and told me that the photos would be ready in just a couple minutes. I sat down in the waiting area and continued filling out the passport form DS-11, which I'd been adding a line or two every spare moment since I entered the building. In short order I was given a small folder with two photos in it and was told to keep it open until they dried. Though it officially requires two "identical" photos, I could see the parallax from the two lenses taking the pictures simultaneously from about an inch apart.

Then back across the hall to pick up the birth certificate. I still had some time to wait, so I continued working on the passport form and watching the clock. After a couple minutes I was called to the desk and received the official certified copy. With all my papers in hand and less than five minutes to spare, I was ready to turn it all in (actually, I still had a few lines of the application to fill out).

I went up another two floors and across the building to room 402. This was one of the times I especially love having wheels in my shoes (the floors were super smooth). When I walked into the office it was 16:27. I told the clerk I wanted to get a passport and had all but a couple lines of my form done. She said they stop at 16:30 sharp and by that time it was already 16:28. Luckily she sent me over to a booth and told me that she'd send someone over, and to hurry up and finish my form. A minute later someone came over, sat down, and asked me what type of service I wanted; normal, expedited, or expedited with overnight shipping. After confirming I could afford it I chose the expedited with overnight shipping, which would take one to three weeks. They collected my cash (just under $200) and went to the register, which was about to be turned off, to get my money order before doing anything else. We gathered up my required papers and after a signature and oath, hand raised, that I swore it was all true, I was given some paperwork, a receipt, and told to call next Thursday to confirm that everything went through okay.

All told it was pretty painless, hopefully it will all go through without a hitch.

Now I need to figure out how I'm going to get to Chile! I've been looking at all my options. Beside being a bit unreliable and slow, if I hitchhike the whole way there's a chance that some countries won't let me in without travel documents with a departure date (ie plane or bus tickets). I still need to look into taking a flight from San Jose, Costa Rica or Panama City, Panama over to Quito, Ecuador. I'd have to bus or hitchhike the rest of the way but I might be able to get a round trip for $500. Direct flights are all looking at being $1,000 plus!

I'm leaning toward a straight flight to keep things easier, or at least one down to Quito or Lima, Peru and hitch or bus the rest. I have about $500 now and have a little work lined up. I'll probably try to get some donations from myspace, facebook, and my mailing list, and depending on my schedule and how much time I have I might try to get some sponsorships...