We woke up at 10, and contemplated the days events, which consisted first and foremost of a run to the Belarusian Consulate, as Jonas had failed to procure a visa before arriving in Vilnius.
A number of events conspired to delay our departure. First, my bag arrived from the airport just before 11. So I had some clean clothes to put on. Second, Ugne (the girl who works with Pete to run the hostel) was making complimentary delicious waffles in the common room. Third, Jonas lost his wallet, thinking it stolen, though we ended up finding it under one of the vacant beds in our room.
So we left at noon for the Consulate that closed at 1. The walk alone was 20 minutes. Vokiečiц Gatvė from town hall to Trakц Gatvė, then continuing on to J. Basanavičiaus Gatvė. Eventually we found a little side street called Vytenio Gatvė. But the consulate wasn't there either. It was around two more unnamed roads.
The consulate in New York was on fifth avenue, but tucked away into a little office building, on floor 20-something, and hidden between two much larger companies. I passed it twice before finding it when I went in to get my visa. But here, in Belarus' neighbor country, there's a mini mansion that boasts the red, green and yellow of the glorious Belarusian people.
We snuck through the gate behind a woman who was buzzed in, and entered. Immediately, a guard asked for our passports in Russian. We complied, and he sent us to the second window (of 10 or more) to state our business.
After some Q and A, we learned that Jonas had, well, none of the items he needed for a visa. Neither a photo, a booking in Belarus to stay, an insurance card, or an application. She informed us where we could find wifi, a photo place, and an insurance salesman (all nearby) and sent us on our way for an epic scavenger hunt. It was 12:30. We picked up a blank visa application form from the guard at the front and left.
We split up. Jonas went down the street to get a photo taken, I took his credit card to book him a hostel room in his name. He walked down the hill to the corner. I took out my phone and wandered up the hill, searching for wifi.
My phone picked up wifi at the top of the hill and around the corner to the left about 6 yards. I couldn't move or I'd lose it. So, painstakingly, I booked Jonas 5 nights at a hostel to correspond with my visa days, with his card. It worked after much Internet difficulty.
I met up with Jonas outside the Consulate. It was 12:50. Jonas hopped online at my wifi spot for a bit to look up travelers insurance.
Then it occurred to us that he already has Denmark's socialist travelers insurance card, but when he told the consulate rep he said "visa," which I think she took to mean not a real insurance card.
We ran back to the consulate. It was 12:57. We buzzed at the gate, but they said they were on lunch. So close!
The consulate rep had also told us we could come back after 2 if we were really desperate for a visa, so we resigned to do that.
Jonas had seen a mall nearby, and we went inside. We sat at another Čili Kaimas, where we got wifi. Over a cup of coffee (hot chocolate for me, still can't stomach coffee) we filled out his visa application. And we learned from the waitress how to count to ten in Lithuanian:
1- Vienas
2- Du
3- Trys (y=ee)
4- Keturi
5- Penki
6- Šeši (š=sh)
7- Septyni
8- Aštuoni
9- Devyni
10- Dešimt
At 2 we returned to the consulate. We were turned away, told to get Jonas insurance for Belarus across the street. It cost 11 Litu, that's it. But it was enough to turn him down. We also had to print out the hostel booking, which we did at an adjacent travel agency, thanks to a very nice travel agent.
When we finally had everything, we went back for the fourth time to the consulate. Jonas checked out. So they sent him for payment. It cost €120, much more than we'd expected. And, of course, we didn't have the money on us. And they wouldn't take a credit card.
So we left again. This time for an ATM. And we found one back at the mall we were in.
At this point it was 3:15 or so, and we'd been denied 4 times at the consulate. We had run all over the area for hours, and been back and forth between their buzz-in gate. So when they saw us coming the last time, they buzzed us in before we could even ring the bell.
After Jonas paid for his visa, we waited in a corner of the consulate with three guys who are also going to Minsk. One American, one Frenchman, and one guy from Monaco (Monacon?). Alan, the American, was using his Portuguese passport to get the visa, so he'd be able to pay less. They've been in Lithuania for months, studying, and are going to spend a little while in Belarus for fun, I guess. We exchanged info, and perhaps we'll meet up with them in Minsk.
About 3:40, a miracle happened. Jonas finally got his visa. We got out of the consulate as quickly as possible.
On the way back, we took a detour to see a curious sight. Here, in the middle of Lithuania, a Frank Zappa statue. We took a few photos, then went on our way.
Before getting back to the hostel, we stopped at a supermarket to get some items to cook dinner. We got water, onions, carrots, rice, chicken, bread, cheese, and some flavoring items. All for 30 Litu, or a little over $10.
While Jonas cooked, I showered. It's been at least two days since the last one, so I needed it.
We watched a movie in the common room. Jonas picked it, it was Hobo With A Shotgun. One of the more gruesome and horrific movies I've ever sat through. But I liked the ending.
Next came Puss in Boots. No one chose that, it was just on. Quite a genre shift. We didn't finish the movie, as 10pm had us going on a pub crawl with the hostel.
We went to five places throughout the night. A karaoke club, an almost empty dance club, a place called the Play Club, which was a far walk, another dance club, but a packed one, and another I don't remember in the middle.
At Play Club, Jonas bumped into one of the girls we played in foosball yesterday at the Jazz bar. Her name is Julija, and she kicked our asses a few more times on the foosball table before we left that bar.
I know we got back to the hostel around 5:30, and I know I fell asleep while on the phone with certain awesome people back home (you know who you are!), but that's it. I passed out, probably around 6.
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