I went to the Italian consulate yesterday to go and get my passport renewed.
You will be well aware that at law, embassies are considered to be the land of the country to whom they belong. Well the Italian consulate goes one step further by actually being exactly the same as its homeland in ensuring that a visit there is an authentic trip through Italian Beureaucracy. Quake in fear!
… Or die of boredom, whichever works for you.
The passport office was stuffed with about 2.5 million Italians and there were a marvelous 2 windows open out of 7 for the true Italian experience.
I sat for about 2 hours with my sister who was slowly falling asleep and required a constant stream of coffee to remain cognitively active.
I took a few photos out of boredom and listened to my iPod (don’t worry, I offered it to Chiara first but she declined several times).
Finding the place was damn fun too. London was getting rather a good deal out of the torrential weather whipping around the country and just had to put up with strong winds. However the winds ended up blowing a flurry of little yellow blossoms or seeds or whatever they were from the trees.
Half way through my journey a cluster of them seized my nostrils and caused a massive hayfever induced sneezing fit. At the end of at least half a minute of very impressive sneezes (if I do say so myself) I looked up to discover I had spun around several times and now didn’t have the faintest idea of where the hell I was. I had to trek back to the station to gather my bearings.
So after all of that work - what’s the result? I get my passport back on the 8th of August.
THE 8th of AUGUST!?
It takes them 1 day to make a passport - I’ve seen it done and delivered in that time.
This is where having a distinguished Italian diplomat for a grandfather pays off - the passports ought to be rushed through, double time in order for my sister to get hers in time for her holiday in Senigallia. All it takes is a letter to some old friends and suddenly the wheels of beureaucracy turn at a rate they should have done all along. What is this? 1950?
Later
John
Posted by John Swaine at July 8, 2004 11:32 AM | TrackBack