Read the story of my trip around the world!

Tuesday, July 27, 2004

Brazil Visa Set, Best Western Redux

Got my Brazilian visa back today, after a bit of a
bump. Hint: follow directions for getting a visa on
the Consulate website, not the tourism one. Courteous
and speedy service, though, and it was much
appreciated. I get the yellow fever shot in the
morning.

Best Western just started allowing the transfer of
points to airlines, so I've now got 23 points left
with Best Western, and 5,000 miles on the way to my
Delta account--putting me over the top for another
free trip to Europe! I still have the two
certificates, and need to see if I can get those
points redeposited.

Mailed books to myself today, with destinations of
Osaka, Tallinn, and Nysa (Poland). Spent about $55
doing it, a bit steep, but it will keep my luggage
under the weight limit, and save my back. I plan to
tackle "Finnegan's Wake"--along with Joseph Campbell's
"A Skeleton Key to Finnegan's Wake"--while traveling
in the Baltics.

Lots of little tasks yet to do, but the big ones are
falling into place. Until next time...

JP



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Thursday, July 01, 2004

Getting the medical stuff done...

So, I spent an hour with the doctor this morning.
Great guy, he did at least a cursory check-up for me
and quizzed me on the trip. He was very familiar with
Sydney & Melbourne, and wrote out a list of "don't
miss" sights in both cities. He also shared the name
and number for a doctor friend in Melbourne, in case I
get sick there. Nice guy!

I completed my hepatitis A & B shots, and learned that
he doesn't stock the yellow fever vaccine (go figure),
so I'll have to get myself down to the health dept
soon. That one seems to be required to get into
Brazil.

He also set me up with some pills in case I get sick
en-route. Nothing exotic, just some stomach-upset
stuff (I did survive the bar-b-que pigeon the last
time I was in Cairo), and some general high-octane
anti-biotics that can kick most any evil
infection/bug/etc.

Still to do--hopefully this weekend--is the visa for
Brazil, and figuring out whether to switch to Best
Western in Vilnius & burn the points, or stick with
the Skandic/Hhonors deal. Oh yes, and, buy a
suitcase, new deck shoes, mail books to my
destinations (too many to carry the whole way), and
stock up on vitamins, neosporin, deodorant, etc.

Until next time...

JP