Temporary Travel Papers

(SORRY NO PHOTOGRAPHS - STOLEN)

The closest Australian Embassy is in Mexico city. It is to them that I had to apply for temporary travel papers that would enable me to get to a city where there is an Australain Embassy. The choice was to either go home (Australia), Mexico city or Lima, Peru. Chose Lima because Shirley is there on the tour that I should be on.

Just been notified that the papers are in the hands of a courier and I should have them by Monday or Tuesday next week. Things are slow around here. Some of these countries do not have postal services and rely on private companies such FedEx, DHL, etc. to deliver mail for them. Nicaragua has its problems and that is just one.

The addresses are unique as well. Example is - house on left 350 metres south of Freedom Square, Barrio Qarth. My hotel has an addres that says it is 200 metres sur (south) of the TicuBus terminal.

Should the papers be delivered as promised I will fly to Lima, Peru the same day all being well.

Sought out a Logistics company and they are putting together a quote to freight the bike from Managua to Lima. The journey takes about a week. They truck their freight to Panama city and then ship it to a port city near Lima.

It was always my intention to ride to Panama and then arrange the shipping to Colombia myself but I cannot cross international borders without a passport. The temporary travel documents will allow me to cross the border at one airport only. It is going to cost several hundred dollars for this replacement passport hope the travel insurance covers it.

If the cost of freight is to high I will store the bike in Managua then fly to Lima and return with my new passport to resume my travels,

Missing out on Costa Rica and Panama would be a pain ( I might not yet ) but I have had a serious taste of Central America. Some of the experiences have been sweeter than others but that is what independant travel is all about.

My next post should be from Lima although I am riding my bike to day to Leon, on the Pacific ocean side, and then to Granada that is located on the shores of a volcanic lake - names of the lake escapes me for now - and they may prove to be interesting. Both places cater to tourists unlike the capital where I am one of a very few tourists on the streets.