I was impressed by TAM Airlines on my flight to São Paulo. In my economy class window seat I had on demand movies on the seat back screen, great service, good food, and a free travel kit with a toothbrush, toothpaste, eye mask, and comb in a nice reusable plastic case. It was even better than Lufthansa, which is hard to beat.
With the flight delay I got into São Paulo at about 12:30am, missing my connecting flight to Brasília by two and a half hours. After waiting in three lines, because I kept asking clueless people, I got a taxi, dinner, and hotel vouchers from TAM. It was a good hotel, but after waiting with all of the other weary travelers for another half hour at the reception desk, I was not interested in the free dinner, only sleep. It was 1:30am and I had to go back to the airport at 6:00am, which did not leave me much time. I had my free breakfast at 5:00am with a bunch of Japanese business men and headed back to the airport. The flight to Brasília was especially short because I slept the whole way.
The thing that bothered me most about the whole experience was not the inconvenience or lack of sleep or dragging extra bags all over. It was that we flew directly over Brasília on the way, continuing another hour and a half south so I could, wait for eight hours and then turn around and come back. I saw the illuminated shape of Brasìlia below us as we flew. The airplane shaped layout of the city is hard to miss and I could even see the neighborhood where I would be staying. I had tried convincing the gate desk clerk that since the flight was delayed they should drop me off on the way to São Paulo, but she would not budge. I told her that Patrícia was waiting for me and I had to get there soon. Still no luck.
In DC I had to apply for a new visa to Brasil because my last one was a tourist visa valid for only 90 days. A longer term visa, up to five years, is up to the discretion of the consular officer. I went to the embassy early, ready with my documents, and dressed well. I was second in line behind a cranky old guy that was only going to be transiting through Brasil on his way to a ship. Because his brother had gotten robbed in Rio he thought Brasil was a dreadful country and didn’t bother to hide his opinion, rather, he seemed to enjoy loudly sharing it. I was surprised that even though he was rude and demanding, the consular officer remained courteous and patient with him. He had no right to go to Brasil. He was asking permission. He is lucky that Brasilians are such nice people; most other countries would have refused the visa.
When old cranky pants finally left, I pleaded my case for a long-term visa. I had to have a compelling reason, so I was honest: I was traveling the world and the woman I loved lived in Brasil and it would be bad if I neglected her. I showed a picture of Patrícia and me and chatted a bit. She said that Patrícia was very beautiful and understood why I wanted the visa. She could not say if I would get the five year visa, but told me to come back the next afternoon to pick it up and not to bother waiting in line. The next day I was making my way through the lobby full of waiting people when the consular officer saw me and excitedly waved and yelled for me to come up to the window. I think she was as happy as I was to see the five year visa in my passport. It seems that love may not be able to redirect a plane but it is a compelling enough of a reason to get a visa.
