Oh phew!

[green_amber]

After about a week of failing to get through to the Israel embassy (I think their fancy phone system is borked) and not daring to ring the Moroccan embassy, and reading scarey stuff online about inabilities to get into Arab countries with Israeli stamps on passports, in a sudden brainwave I rang Trailfinders who it turns out have an actual Visa dept (free!)

So they say UK passpr holders don't need a visa for Israel for under 3 months, and Morocco doesn't need one either, andnin any case the only countries you can't get into with an Israeli visa are Syria, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia.

PHEW!!!

Er if`anyone knows anything to contrary please say???

What Trip Adviser does say which might be useful is that to avoid any future tgrouble you can politely ask Immigration in Israel not to stamp yr passpt - any one tried this? anyone been to Israel???

Rest of week reprise: more blur - lovely to meet up with moosedevil (a face from home ! nostalgia!) and her SpamMan; Date went well :); Obama stuff rocks; I have found a bar I really adore on Division St, which is called Badgers and Bananas or something v similar :-) (Bungalows?? certainly sounded like a fanzine title); Quantum of Solace is ok but not as good as Casino Royale, but Daniel Craig is still doing pretty good on the acting chops (though not enough naked flesh!!); I'm going to a CHOIR next week(to join, not watch) called Purple Cats - how appropriate!!; I had a "how is your research going?" meeting with senior colleagues which was actually, remarkably, quite useful (a first in my career, possibly); I really need to find time to go to swim/yoga as I am VERRRY achey, mostly i think cos bed I am sleeping in is too damn small (after you've got used to a king size on your own, anyway :-( - in fact I think I will go NOW! as it's the first free moment I've had!!

Comments

[gerisullivan.livejournal.com]

The standard practice I've heard recommended is to ask Immigration in Israel to stamp a separate piece of paper rather than the passport itself.

Here's a clear explanation from a BBC website: For instance, some Muslim countries, including Serbia and Syria, will not permit entry to anyone with an Israeli stamp; and the US do not look kindly on visitors with Cuban passport stamps. The solution is to get the more accommodating country, Israel and Cuba in these examples, not to stamp your passport - instead, if you ask, they will stamp a separate card which you then carry with your passport for the duration of your stay.

[surliminal.livejournal.com]

yes that's what I'd heard too. Thanks for the confirmation :-)

[the-gardener.livejournal.com]

some Muslim countries, including Serbia and Syria

Serbia is Muslim?!?! Shurely shome mishtake?

[flickgc.livejournal.com]

About ten years ago, they just automatically stamped a bit of card and tucked it inside.

Not sure if that's any help nowadays, though!

[lilitufire.livejournal.com]

I briefly looked into this as Dad wanted to go to the Holy Land, and thought it was a great way NOT to get posted to Saudi ;)

I believe how journalists get round this is by having two passports and the UK passport people will do this if there is a legit reason. No idea where I read that now though!

[jozafeen.livejournal.com]

Haha, that'll be Bungalows And Bears - that and the Frog And Parrot just up the road are two of my favourite city centre pubs!

[moosedevil.livejournal.com]

I like the new feely wallpaper in the Frog and Parrot :)