How the hell do I get out of here????

[Matt Roach]

I seem to be a little bit stuck at the moment as to which route to take from Egypt to the UK. I was originally planning on going via Libya, but after a three month visa wait in Cairo, I have now been officially denied, hence Libya, Tunisia etc is out.

The next logical option is to head via Jordan, Syria, Turkey etc..., but after a visit to the Syrian consulate today, I have been told that the only place I can get a Syrian visa on an Australian passport is in Australia, and not in Egypt, Jordan or at the border.

I would go via ferry, but the ferries from Egypt to Europe have long stopped, and the ferry from Israel to Cyprus seems to have stopped for the winter (according to http://www.cruisecyprus.com/haifa.htm)

So, I have a couple of questions...

1. Does anyone know if you can obtain a Syrian transit visa either in Amman or at the border, even if there is a Syrian embassy in your home country? I really do not want to have to send my passport home.

2. Can anyone confirm if the Haifa - Limassol ferry is still running in winter?

3. Are there any other options (aside from shipping from Egypt or Israel) which I am missing?

4. Can anyone recommend a good shipping agent from Israel?

Oh, and since I have been bumming around Egypt for so long, my carnet is due to expire in just over a week...

cheers

[simmo]

Hi Matt
I would go via Jordan Syria and Turkey. If the Syrians even think you might go to Israel you wont get a visa, and from my experience the Israeli's may stamp your passport regardless of what you tell them if you are trying to cross via the King Hussein Bridge. (the normal no stamp from J/ I way).

You could apply for a second Aussie passport in Cairo ( I assume theres an emabssy there?) you are allowed to have more than one if you require it, have it sent to the Syrian embassy or consulate in Melb? go to Jordan on your first passport and have the second sent to you in Jordan, with the visa.

I would email the Syrian consulate in Melb/Canb first and explain what you want to do and maybe they can help let you organise a Syrian Visa in Amman and not have to get a second passport. Describe where you want to go and why and what you have done, if they like it you should get one.

This way you would get to see Petra and Wadi Rum as well as Damascus which from all accounts is brilliant.

Stay south in Turkey though because the mountains will be bloody freezing by now.

You can extend your Carnet, send an email to the RACV or NRMA whoever issued it and it can be extended.

cheers
alec

[simmo]

Oh and Matt, this is probably telling you to suck eggs, but I mean getting to Jordan from Egypt via the ferry at Neweiba? the shittest town in Egypt. Not overland via Israel, the Egyptian exit stamp stop any Syrian visa being issued.

[Matt Roach]

Thanks Simmo,

I am in touch with the Syrian embassy in Oz now.

As to the carnet issue, you wouldn't believe the hassle in trying to extend a South African issued carnet in Egypt - I gave up trying months ago.....now just racing to get out of the country before it expires.

cheers

[beddhist]

With so little time left on the carnet I don't think I'd take any chances and head straight for the airport to see where I can fly my bike to. You don't want to overstay your carnet.

Also, try contacting Grimaldi, they run a RORO boat to Alexandria, but don't take passengers in that particular port. An Israeli posted some useful info here recently about ferries from Israel. That might be another option.

Or, just go to Israel to get out of the carnet issue and take it from there.

[simmo]

Good Luck with the visa. Petra is ace, look at the walls of the souk closely when you walk down to the treasury etc, in both directions and the ancient reliefs start to come out. very cool. I could have spent a week wandering around there. I suspect humming the theme to raiders of the lost ark at the same time was pretty daggy but I couldn't get it out of my head.