A long story but well worth reading. People I’ve told this story to are amazed that this happened.
Senior year of college, I was going on my first plane trip ever to see my friend in Brazil. Purchased a ticket with three layovers on the way —- 23 hours departure to arrival time…….and had no idea what that was going to be like. My travel agent handled the ticket and passport requirements for me. Four weeks of vacation never looked so exciting.
Arrive in Rio and I follow the crowd. I see everyone with their passport in hand so I do the same and am at the end of the line. When I get the person looking at the passports, he says “visa?” Not having any idea what he meant, I assumed he wanted another form of identification so I started to get my license out of my pocket. To that he says, “No, visa! Visa, passporte!” I looking dumbfounded I’m sure and he states “American!” and grabs my arm and takes me away from the others.
Taken to another part of the airport, two gentlemen in suits approach and start asking me questions. “How did you get into this country?” “Did someone in America look at your passport?” “Was it a male or female?” I responded a female and then they wanted to know exactly what she looked like……how tall, what color of hair, color of eyes, approximate age of which I answered all of the questions. I then asked if I could go see my friend who was there to pick me up and they responded — “You can’t stay here.”…..stating I didn’t have a Visa. They did let me talk to him via the phone though and my friend said “why you no have no visa? You can’t stay here.” They radio the airline that I had just gotten off of from Bolivia and send me back to Santa Cruz. No new purchase of a ticket and gave me my baggage claim tickets and walked me back to the plane I had just been on.
Arrived in Santa Cruz and realized I was short one baggage claim ticket — which I eventually found the bag in Santa Cruz and never would have made it to Brazil. A gentlemen seeing me sitting by myself at the airport asks what I’m doing there. I respond that I need to get a Visa and not sure where I needed to go. He tells me that the airport is closed - as it was now Sunday and they close on Sunday - and that I would need to go to town to the Consulate to get a Visa. He and his cohort give me a ride to downtown Santa Cruz, secure me a hotel room and show me where to go in the morning.
Next morning, it’s 90+ degrees out and I put on shorts and t-shirt and walk to Consulate to apply for the Visa. I’m stopped at the door by an armed guard and he won’t let me in —- says I need pants on to enter. I go change into the one pair of pants I brought and go back to fill out the application. I’m then told that I need a photograph of myself for the application and tells me where to find a place to get one. 2 hours later I have photos of myself and go back to consulate and complete the application.
As the lady is reviewing the paperwork, she states, “certificado de applicacione de la fevre? (spelling may be off). I asked “can I see?, pointing to my eyes. She shows me this small piece of paper. I asked her “donde?(where)” And she states back in English, “across from Post Office”. I had seen the post office earlier so headed back there to find this document.
Inside the Post Office, there is a sign hanging from ceiling saying “Certificado” and I start asking if anyone around there spoke English. I get a tap on my shoulder and a gentlemen asks “does there seem to be a problem here?” I explain my predicament and he seems to understand and takes me outside. He runs into an acquaintance of his and explains to him what I’m looking for and if he can help me. The kid - maybe 14 years old along with his 16 year old sister - take me across the street and he indicates that I need a shot —- like a vaccination!! After two attempts to get this at this “clinic”, I’m told that there is no doctor there but did I have $20. I said yes and he said “give me”. I asked if this was the price for the document/shot or because I’m an American and you know I have money on me. He responds, “you want, $20 dollars.” A female stamps this document, signs it, takes the money and I’m on my way. Lady at Consulate takes my paperwork and tells me to come back tomorrow morning at 9AM for my passport.
I now visit a travel agency in town to get a ticket back to Rio. Being so close to Christmas, I’m told that they can’t find me a seat for tomorrow but can for the following day. I said ok and that I’d come back after I secured my passport.
I then find a business where I can make a phone call to my parents back home — no cell phones at this time. Tell them I’ll get a ticket out the next day and that I’m doing OK
While waiting in lobby for 9AM to come the next morning, the travel agent pokes her head in and asks if I wanted to leave today - to which I enthusiastically responded “yes!” I pick up my passport at Consulate and proceed to the travel agency. My flight leaves mid-afternoon and now I need to contact my friend and let him know when I’m coming. I go back to the “phonebooth” business and try calling him but realize I either have a wrong number or they misdialed. Either way, I can’t reach him to let him know that I’m now flying into Sao Paulo.
I head back to hotel to get my things and eventually find a taxi. As I enter, someone calls my name and when I turn around, it’s the gentlemen from the airport saying he’s there to give me a ride to the airport. I asked him how he knew and he said he made a few phone calls to find out about my status. He had married an English gal so therefore he spoke very good English. He was my guardian angel during my time there.
I board the plane - which by the way was about 80% empty but still the nicest plane I’ve ever been on. My stomach settles and now I’m starving —- didn’t eat during the 50 hour stay in Santa Cruz. I ask the gentlemen ahead of me after seeing that he’s reading Business Week magazine, if he spoke English and could help. He said yes and I told him I have a phone number to my friend but he has no idea I’m arriving.
We’re in line at Immigration and heading towards Customs where they scan the baggage. The gentlemen taps my shoulder and asks, “who is that?” I look and see a 13–14 year-old girl holding a large sign above her head with my last name on it. I tell him I don’t know who that is nor have I ever seen her. He says, “someone knows you’re coming and that you’re here.” As I approach the girl, another man intercepts and says, “Craig, welcome to Brazil. I’m Jaerte, Manoel’s uncle (my friend). I asked him how he knew I was going to be there to which he responds, “Stephanie call three times yesterday, three times today and she will call you tonight at 10PM”. She was my travel agent in the US.
She calls, says she’s sorry for everything that has happened and connects me with my family and lets us talk on the phone on her dime.
Four fantastic weeks later, I’m now leaving via my original ticket from Rio. I tell the lady at the counter that I’m the flight that leaves at this time and she asks” did you confirm your flight?” to which I responded “no”. She says, “didn’t your travel agent tell you that you need to confirm your flight 72 hours before departure?” to which I again responded “no.” She says, “sorry, but we are way overbooked and there’s no way you’re getting on this flight without confirming”. My friend then intervenes and in a loud voice is speaking Portuguese to her to which he has everyone’s attention and all are listening. After he’s done speaking, she looks at me and says, “oh my God, you’re the one?” Yep, I’m the one that got kicked out last month and caused the airline to be fined for letting me in and they just found out it was me. A man with the airline who was eavesdropping says, “I’ll help you find a ticket and get you out”. He found a direct flight to get me to Miami and was happy I didn’t have to go back to Bolivia again. It costs a bit more than my original but the guys says, “you give me $100, I mark paid in computer. You just can’t tell anyone in the US I do this for you”. I didn’t care and paid him the $100 and was now on my way home.
The day after my arrival back home, I go to my travel agents location and find she’s not at her desk but several other ladies are. The girl next to her desk asks if she can help to which I respond, “ Yes, I’m Craig and I just got back from Brazil last night.” Her response was “Oh my God, ladies!! It’s Craig from Brazil. We’ve all been worried about you and thing of you”. Come to find out that Stephanie was pregnant and had her baby several weeks premature —- I was afraid she had been fired. I came back a week later, saw Stephanie, and the travel agency paid for my out of pocket expenses - which was less than $300 if I recall so they got off pretty cheap.
Bizarre story, yes, Scary?…..very much so as I didn’t know anyone nor knew where to go and what to do while in Bolivia. It’s an experience that’s embedded in my memory 32 years later and one that I’ll never forget. Thanks for taking the time to read this long rendition……..safe travels all!!