Grounded

Well! This is going to be a rather short travel blog this time around.

Two days ago, the plan for tonight would have been a bit of packing and fridge cleaning. However, I have just finished putting together my travel cancellation insurance claim, and am about to hunt for a veggie burger and beer somewhere. I might even unpack a little.

The main story is that, despite the new passport, I still need 4 visas, 3 of which need new Letters of Invitation (referencing my new passport number) which, I have been told now, take 3-4 weeks to obtain. This does not even include the 'great game' of applying for each visa as a non-national enroute. My travel agent said that I am the 2nd who cancelled on this basis in her 30 years of experience.

Needless to say, there is not much difference between finding that this mountain has risen too high, and discovering that I've fallen off a cliff.

To top if off, the Lufthansa flight I would have been on tomorrow has been cancelled due to the pilot union's April 2-4 strike.

So one way or another, I was not meant to fly tomorrow, or go on this trip. Instead, I'll be getting a neck massage to sort out some strain which has developed of late. And taking some time off to recover from all this travel admin, which is a bit twisted...