passport renewal

so we survived san pedro sula.

no mean feat.

people staring at us malevolently. (not since my divorce has that happened.)

tension in the air.

even speaking spanish was a lot more difficult than in la ceiba.

oh well what do you expect in a city where the only noticeable signage in the mountains is a hollywood style coca cola sign. from miles away.

we started by getting our passport photos taken at a place around the corner from the consulate.

then celebrated that by eating at a burger king in the mall.

it was so bad that i have officially sworn off burger kings the world round.

found the consuls office and stood in line.

filled out a form given us by the honduran security guard (what!? no u.s. marines!?).

30 minutes later at the desk of the aforementioned consul was informed that it was, indeed, the wrong form.

filled out the correct form, surrendered passport.

20 minutes later on the way down stairs to the bank to pay the renewal fee.

informed by the bank teller that the transaction could not be processed without seeing my passport.

after another thirty minutes of begging , crying, and pleading (highly reminiscent of my junior prom) back to the consul with receipts in hand.

informed by (now smirking openly) consul that the passport photos were unacceptable. (the backgrounds were white. they are supposed to be off white.)

after a walk of one block down and a half block over, found the recommended photo shop and had the proper photos taken.

i didn`t have to wear a blue blazer or wear makeup for my first passport photo.