I tried to renew my passport today, but was unsuccessful. Who knew you had to pay with a money order or check? No cash or cards?? "Hello, this is the dark ages calling. We just wanted to let you know that if you want your offical ID from the U.S. government, you'll have to step into that time machine over there and join us way back here." So, now I'll have to go back tomorrow with a checkbook. argh.
Since I'll no doubt have to give up the old one for awhile, I thought I'd take you through a brief tour of some of my trips from the past ten years. This isn't all of them, but the ones that turned out OK. The others are too faded.
My first trip to South America!
I've been to this one many times in my life on the way to visit the grandparents.
10 comments:
I love the idea of a passport. i don't have one- never had the need. Maybe i should get one and then i can be ready to sash away anywhere at a moments notive...
I love this post. I just love it! There is soooo much romance associated with a passport - so many possiblities.
Out of all of those I've only been to Schiphol & that only last year.
You know, if you wanted to keep this for nostalgia's sake, you could "lose" it. I'm just sayin'... Oh, never mind. That's probably a bad idea. Don't listen to me.
Good luck with the passport renewal thing. Yeah, government efficiency! And now you get one of the new ones with an RFID chip in it! Woo hoo!
Maya, what a wonderful idea! You are a real romantic.
Passports represent intrigue and adventure.
The time machine metaphor is very appropriate. The idea of paper passports really brings back the films from post-war Germany like, "The Third Man" and, of course let's not forget the precious "letters of transit" that passed for currency at Ricks Cafe Americain in "Casablanca."
prof: It makes me nervous to be without one for a few weeks! What if I suddenly need to leave the country? You definitely should get one just in case...
tash: I love my passports. They are nostalgic. I hate when they don't stamp them which happens. There are places I've been that aren't even reflected.
dc: They will send the old one back. My Visa for Brazil is in it so they have to anyways. It will be a pain if I ever decide to go back because I will have to carry both with me! What's that about a chip? Sounds awfully high tech for a government that doesn't take cash or cards!!
movielady: You are certainly not the first to call me a romantic! Some say it's even a problem, but I disagree! ;-)
All newly-issued U.S. passports are now embedded with an RFID (radio frequency identification) integrated-circuit chip. It's the latest technology used by retailers and distributors to track their inventory and produce product using just-in-time (JIT) rather than having lots of stock just lying around. The same technology is being used by the U.S. government as a means of tracking passports and their users. Just one more way Sept. 11 was used to justify more "Big Brother" in our lives (and I'm not talking about that awful reality show either.)
Here's some more information about RFID in passports.
Oh great! Now they are tracking our every move? That really IS scary!
RFID's contain digital photos too? Good thing I got a decent picture! ;-)
What's more efficient than cash? Credit cards. Weird, but then this is the federal guberment, I'd expect nothing less then poor efficiency. good luck!
Been through Amsterdam twice on connecting flights to and from Rome. I only wish to spend a day or three in Amsterdam.
Rob, you should definitely go to Amsterdam. Plan on getting lost and walking around for hours. You won't regret it! Especially if you have a camera with you.
Post a Comment