UPD 29/6 14:32 – Stamattina sveglia alle 6 e in coda all’ufficio passaporti della Questura di Milano. E’ estate e sono presi d’assalto, ma sono stati impeccabili: hanno capito il problema e mi hanno rilasciato un passaporto in due ore scarse (+2 di coda). E sono stati perfino gentili! Alle 13 ero al consolato americano a consegnare il mio nuovissimo passaporto. Commento del console: “Ha visto che era possibile?” Io: “Ma siete sicuri di fare in tempo a rispedirmi il passaporto per posta prioritaria, non sarebbe meglio che lo ritirassi io?” Console: “Niente è sicuro in questa vita, ma questo è il nostro sistema e funziona bene.” Per i burocrati benissimo. Per i cittadini direi un po’ meno. Augurateci buona fortuna…
Consular interview today for obtaining visas for the FF summer tour. Everything OK, except for me: no problem getting a visa, but my passport is no good. Expired? No way, it expires in 2011. So what’s the matter? The binding of the back cover is wearing out, which apparently makes it unthinkable to issue a visa on that passport. I suppose it is a threat to national security! So I need to get a new passport, then go back to the consulate to get a visa. Will I make it in time for departure? I have only one week, and that includes 4th of July. In the photo I am showing the scandalous passport.

UPD 29/6 14:32 – Woke up at 6 this morning and joined the queue at the Passports Office in Questura of Milano. It’s summertime and they are overloaded, but they’ve been impeccable: they understood the problem and issued me a new passport in less than 2 hours (+2 queue). They’ve even been kind through the madness! At 1 o’clock I was at the US Consulate to deliver my brand new passport. The consul: “See? It was possible after all!” Yeah, great. I: “Are you sre you have time enough to mail me my passport back? Would it not be better for me to pick it up?” Consul: “Nothing is certain in this life, but this is our system, and it works well.” Yeah, it works great for bureaucrats. For citizens not so much. Wish us good luck…