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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsFrom the German Rheinland to the tip of Cape Cod, what they told us to expect vs. what happened
Don't even start reading this unless you have time for a bedtime story!
Instead of two flights to Boston a day from most European countries, you are lucky if some places have two a week. They jacked the prices up to double as well, but I just wasn't ready to buy an advance ticket until I knew we would be allowed to fly.
Within the last 2 weeks--the US embassy in Berlin said as far as they were concerned, Trump's proclamation was still in force (i.e. spouses of U.S. citizens may enter the USA). And: Lufthansa said they would honor it. The only question was--what would happen when we got to the USA? What tests would we have to undergo? How long would we be detained at the airport?
Our train from our little town down to Düsseldorf was right on time at 8:14 AM CEST, Düsseldorf at 8:30, the train from Düsseldorf to Frankfurt airport at 9:04 was also to the minute, arriving at Frankfurt airport at 10:33. Now came one of the two awaited tests of fire. The Lufthansa check-in counter. Would they give us a hard time about a German (my wife) wanting to fly to the USA? Nope, not so far. Took our bags, gave us the stubs and the boarding cards, and that was it. Up to security. NOBODY there except about ten very bored security checkers, so we were through that in a couple of minutes. Where was all this cumbersome hassle we were told on just about every website to expect? Ah, be patient.
At the gate, Lufthansa had additional security set up. They took our bags, gave us boarding passes, we went through German passport control and security, and NOW they want to make sure we could fly? Oh, well, they ARE EU after all. Why do anything in a logical order? So we all had to line up again, show our boarding passes and passports. THIS time they balk at my wife's German passport. Why is she flying to the USA? What justification does she have, since German citizens normally can't? I said I had things to do back home, and Trump's presidential proclamation specifically said that spouses of US citizens could accompany them on flights to the USA. The guy doing the checking was not German, and was unsure of what to do. When in doubt, ask for documents the passenger probably doesn't have, and say "no." So he asked for our marriage certificate (we were married in 1982). Sorry, Charlie, I DID anticipate this and had not only a copy of the marriage certificate from Virginia, but also the entries in German for the government there (also from 1982). Somewhat deflated, he said, "oh." He wasn't done, yet, though. He said I have to check this. When nothing else seems out of order, they need to "check this." There was some rep from DHS nearby, and he said it was all good, and suddenly the guy comes back, smiling as if he was announcing that we had won a billion euros in a lottery and said we were free to travel.
When we boarded, they took the handicapped first, and then called for priority boarding (we were, and it said so on our boarding passes). NOW the guy got to say NO. In English, he said, "priority only, sir." I pointed to our boarding passes that said "PRIORITY BOARDING" on them and he again said no, only priority boarding. I thought of a few choice Arabic insults to try on him, but held back, and we boarded with the rest. What the hell, it's not like the plane was gonna leave without us.
The flight was fine, but that was the easy part. They gave us some forms to fill out for the health people to check, but they were one-page simple things.
We landed in Boston, prepared for the worst. First came a table where we handed in the forms, got asked a couple of questions, and were sent to immigration. We were in the "blue" line because my wife's previous ESTA registration had expired, and she was traveling under a new ESTA number. The CBP guy was nice enough, but freaked when he asked me what countries I had been in over the last two weeks. I listed them, and he said "all those countries in TWO WEEKS?" I said, yeah, it's my job. He said, OK, and them checked my wife's fingerprints. He then kept her passport and told us some one would come to escort us to a special office. Uh-oh. Less than 3 minutes later, another uniform showed up, and escorted us to a special office with about ten other CBP uniforms. We were the only ones there without uniforms. We gave my wife's passport to one of them, who asked the usual customs questions (carrying $10,000? Bringing in food?). I said yes to food, we had some cookies. He said you don't have to declare cookies. I told him that I was once nearly arrested at CBP in Atlanta for saying I had no food when I was bringing in some cookies, so since then, I always answer "yes" when I have anything more edible than a pencil.
So we were sitting there in the little CBP office while the guy fiddled with his computer and my wife's passport, and the others made Herculean efforts at not being bored. After playing with his computer for about ten minutes, we heard that telltale noise of a passport being stamped. My wife and gave each other that little "thumbs-up" look, and sure enough, he called us over to pick up her passport, and told us how to get to baggage claim. Our four suitcases were already there by the time we got there, so we went out, got the airport bus over to the rental car building, and went over to the AVIS counter to pick up our car. Everything was all set, and we went to the slot, loaded our stuff in, and got headed for the exit.
The Avis exit was worse than CBP. The woman at the counter had given us the right car, but the wrong paperwork. We got stopped at the rental car exit for almost as long as we were stopped at immigration. But the woman at the exit gate was in no mood to run into the office and ask WTF they were thinking. So, she re-did our rental papers right there in her kiosk, and sent us on our way.
Now I was terrified that we would be exhausted after the long trip, and fall asleep at the wheel. This was July 4th, after all, and we were ready for traffic to be one 100 mile long parking lot. But it was already 5:30 PM Eastern time (11:30 at night for us), and the roads were virtually deserted. Amazing. We made the trip in a record two hours flat.
All those warnings that the German authorities might block us from leaving to the USA, all those warnings that the American authorities might deny my wife entry, or put us into quarantine? NONE of it happened, and at the end of the day, it was one of our smoothest trips ever to the States. Yeah, there was that Lufthansa jerk in Frankfurt, and yeah, there was that useless check of my wife's passport in Boston, but neither was especially unpleasant and neither caused any delay. Our daughter and her husband, who knew exactly when to expect us, had made up a dish with shrimp, cod, and lemon butter pasta, accompanied by a Caesar salad and fresh watermelon and cherries to finish it off.
Moral of the story? When government and airline websites tell you to expect a smooth flight and smooth procedures, expect the worst. When they tell you to expect the worst, prepare for it, but don't expect it. And always fly on July 4th. Those people want to get home, too!
GreenPartyVoter
(72,377 posts)DFW
(54,397 posts)Although "back" isn't quite the right expression. We live in Germany, so this is the visit, not a homecoming.
But we love Cape Cod, so we are VERY happy to finally be here. As recently as a month ago, my wife was convinced we wouldn't make it this year.
GreenPartyVoter
(72,377 posts)I could do that. So many lovely places to see and paint. . Do you ever have time to catch your breath and enjoy each new location?
DFW
(54,397 posts)Don't forget, at this point, I don't work in a lot of "new" locations. Most of the cities I visit for work are ones I have been working in for decades. Utrecht, Brussels, Paris, Munich, Barcelona, Zürich, Geneva, Stockholm, etc.--these are cities I am already quite familiar with, and whose languages I speak. When I go, I do what I have to do, and am then on to wherever is next.
On rare occasions, when my wife and I both have time free, we will decide to pop off somewhere where I don't have work obligations, and then just enjoy the new experience (Prague, Budapest, e.g.). At some point, we'll probably do Kraków, Dublin and Edinburgh. Maybe Marrakesh or Jerusalem. It's finding the time that is the big challenge.
GreenPartyVoter
(72,377 posts)DFW
(54,397 posts)We had met in a Berlin cabaret on my summer European trip after graduating college. We were both 22 (we are 68 now). Soon after, I was recruited for the same outfit I now work for, and I said I wanted extra vacation time to visit my (then-) girlfriend in Germany. They said (the top brass being no idiots), "look, you already speak German, French, Russian, Swedish, Italian and Spanish. If you can make yourself useful over there, spend all the time there that you want."
They didn't have to ask me twice.
I sometimes land in stressful situations, but I'll tell what, you could pay me ten times my salary for a desk job, and I'd turn it down in five seconds flat.
GreenPartyVoter
(72,377 posts)as long as I can remember. Moved around within Maine. Dont remember being in MD when I was a toddler.
Still, its a beautiful state and I could have left it if Id wanted to. Do wish I could afford to travel, but the Lottery gods always frown on me. LOL
DFW
(54,397 posts)There are MANY places that are far worse to be "stuck" in!
GreenPartyVoter
(72,377 posts)DFW
(54,397 posts)A wild boar has better manners.
hlthe2b
(102,283 posts)Last edited Sun Jul 5, 2020, 09:07 AM - Edit history (1)
difficult from the US...?
DFW
(54,397 posts)There should be no problem for a German returning to Germany.
As for me, I do have an official permanent residence card issued by the German government, so I don't foresee any problem. At check-in at U.S. airports, when heading overseas, if you don't have a US-issued round trip, or only a one-way ticket, the airlines always ask to see a proof of residence or diplomatic status before giving you a boarding card. The USA normally does not check the documents of people leaving the country, but the airlines do, so as not to be stuck (by the country of destination) with paying the return fare of someone they never should have allowed to fly in the first place.
panader0
(25,816 posts)Be safe DFW. All the best.
DFW
(54,397 posts)Definitely more than ten miles. More like four thousand. Two trains, walking a mile through an airport with four suitcases, a long flight, a short bus and 120 miles through eastern Massachusetts. All in a day's work. Well, not really work for us, but I'll bet it seems like it if you're not used to the routine.
Now, the only things we have to worry about are great whites and arterial clogging from all the great food. Should be OK.
Laelth
(32,017 posts)-Laelth
So weird--usually when we think all is taken care of, something happens to provoke a crisis. This time, when we expected one crisis after another, there were none. There is a lesson in there, somewhere, I think.
Laelth
(32,017 posts)That was pretty shrewd.
-Laelth
DFW
(54,397 posts)I deal with governments and their bureaucrats all the time. Their principal function (the real one, not the one on their job description) is to deny things to people, and tell them, "no." I always approach things from this standpoint, and try to figure out all necessary countermeasures in advance.
localroger
(3,626 posts)Back when I traveled more I got that treatment every other time I re-entered the US. The first time it happened the CBP agent literally burst out laughing when she looked up from the computer to me. The second to last time it happened that airport had built a special office for those of us who were getting the treatment because we have very common names. That's right, some genius thought that last name, first name was an appropriate index for a database of bad people who need extra security, so even though I'm standing there with a valid US passport with a unique number and photo, a valid LA driver's license with a unique number and photo, and a TWIC card with multiple biometric security features and a photo, they have to drag me out of line and go through some hoop jumping to make sure I'm not the guy a different race and half my age who is also named Roger Williams.
The last time it happened was in Montreal, where they do US customs before you get on the plane. The CBP office did not open early enough to reliably clear everyone before our flight was scheduled to take off, so the Canadians made a point of getting us lined up and with our paperwork in order before the CBP office opened. So they did the Roger Williams thing and cleared me last. I was sure I was going to miss my plane but when I got onto the concourse one of the Canadians was there with an empty tram offering me a ride to my gate at the end of the concourse, and when I got to the plane they were holding the door open for me. As the plane took off I told my wife I would never be flying into the US from offshore again.
We did make one more trip to Canada, and this time we flew to Seattle and drove across the border. They didn't hit me with the Roger Williams flak but at the inland portal (I was not going to try the zoo on I-5) the CBP kid looked at our passports and asked what our relationship was.
"We're married," I said.
"Well your wife never got her passport updated with your name."
"And she won't be. She kept her maiden name."
Wide eyes. "You can do that?"
I just looked at him and said, "You don't see Angelina Jolie changing her name to Pitt, do you?"
DFW
(54,397 posts)You could legally change your last name from Williams to "Rabbit."
Not only will that get you out of the "common names" category, you will get asked, "for real?" every time, and then get a big laugh at your explanation why, and sent on your way with a compliment for your inspiration.
localroger
(3,626 posts)...I would have seriously considered changing my name. You can't google me. If you do you will find out that I founded Rhode Island, discovered vitamin B-12, and played professional baseball. But as it is I am 56 years old and my real name is on way too many documents that would have to be updated to make it tempting.
DFW
(54,397 posts)But a professional baseball player with a name like that could probably double his salary just because every team in MLB would want to have a player on the roster with a name like that.
Interestingly enough, there is a college in Rhode Island with that name (Williams, not Rabbit). It offered one of my daughters a scholarship once. She ended up not going there, but we already have a last name of a well-known university, so we get the questions at airports every now and again anyhow.
localroger
(3,626 posts)...in RI has been named Roger Williams. It totally dominates the google results. Then you trickle down to other famous people -- the inventor of vitamin B-12 and a well regarded baseball player really were also named RW -- and then the hundred thousand other normal people like me who are also named Roger Williams. I became localroger online after a four hour head-bashing contest with Hotmail to get me a nick that didn't have a 3-digit number tacked onto it.
DFW
(54,397 posts)Not that I'd want to be named Pericles Worthington or anything, but having too common a name doesn't seem like a blessing, either.
pwb
(11,275 posts)Planes and cruise ships are sickness traps. Hope you are well in two weeks?
Planes are more safe than buses, as they change their air more frequently than any other form of public transportation, and we had two seats to ourselves with no one sitting nearby (you can book that, though it's expensive). The mask requirement was strictly enforced, much more so than in European trains, and the number of infections in Europe has been going steadily down. No cruise ships on the horizon, fear not!
Besides if you want to get from Europe to America and back, there aren't many other choices other than by air or by boat.
BannonsLiver
(16,387 posts)And people shrink their world when they say theyll never get on a plane again. Ill be on one when Europe is open to travel again from the US, whenever that may be. Im less bullish on cruising again in the next few years. Anyway, glad you made it back ok. Ive found flying on actual holidays (rather than the day before or after) to be generally pleasant.
fromVT
(266 posts)You can easily drive down I-95 at 8:30 am on a regular weekday morning and not hit any slowdowns. Most employers are still having employees work from home. Not surprising it was an easy trip out of the airport.
DFW
(54,397 posts)I-93 south from Logan, them Route 3 to the Sagamore Bridge, and then, once on the Cape, Route 6 to Truro.
I haven't used a GPS in my life. I could do that trip in my sleep.
FakeNoose
(32,639 posts)I'm glad you and your wife made it safely to Cape Cod for a nice visit with your daughter and son-in-law. We're having a heat wave right now so that cold water on the Cape will probably feel good. (I could never swim there because the water is too cold for me.)
Stay safe and keep your masks on, social distancing may not be required but it's always a smart idea. I think the eastern states, especially Massachusetts and New York, are quite sensible about it. But if you have to venture farther west you'll see a lot of people who are like ... "Virus? What virus! It's all fake news."
DFW
(54,397 posts)We're not straying far from our rented house in Truro, which is very sparsely populated to begin with.
I do have to run down to Dallas for a week in August. I've read all the reports, but I'll mostly be at home with my very sensible TX housemates, or in the office which has such a strict mask requirement that they made a company-wide announcement that not wearing it is grounds for termination. We do not hire rednecks. Then up to the Langley, VA, area to visit with my brother, who has been working mostly from home for months already.
FakeNoose
(32,639 posts)Whoo! That's way too hot for me. Enjoy your visit.
DFW
(54,397 posts)I will not be running any marathons while I'm there, fear not. It sounds like I'd lose half a pound in sweat for every ten meters I walk outside!
mnhtnbb
(31,391 posts)Cape Cod trip this year.
Hope you enjoy being there and stay well!
DFW
(54,397 posts)It's foggy and cooler than usual. but it's tranquil and the air and sunsets are as expected (glorious).
So, we'll do our wonderful nothing for 4 weeks, and be glad we came--just like every year for the last 35!
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)Think I've heard "gonna be really bumpy going in, so we are suspending drink service" dozens of times. And you tense up and then no bumps. Think they say it because they ran out of coke or ice.
We are leaving Friday for annual CT shore vacation from another country (TX) . Too scared to fly and unlike you had an option to drive. 27 hrs . I am gonna see if I can order a Biden bumper sticker which hopefully will distract from TX license plate. CT has a 14 day mandatory quarantine.
Are you social distancing with your family?
DFW
(54,397 posts)For the first two weeks, we are just going to hang at the house or at the small beach in front of it, so social distancing was something we were doing anyway.
We did virus tests in Germany last Tuesday. We didn't get the results before we left, but were told that if either of us tested positive, we'd hear within 24 to 36 hours, and if not, then anywhere from 4 to 5 days. We had heard nothing as of Saturday morning. Our daughter and her husband were tested last week, and they were negative as well.
I can't imagine driving 27 hours to anywhere. I prefer an 8 hour flight where we can sit back, watch a movie and nap.
As for story-telling, once upon a time, I got a crazy idea for a story. When I wrote the book (literally), I got great plugs for the back cover from no less than Stan Lee, Howard Dean and Adrian Cronauer. It still never became a best-seller
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)died of COVID, driving 27 hrs now seems like ridiculously simple.
DFW
(54,397 posts)But if I had to drive 27 hours to anywhere, I'd never arrive alive, since I'd have fallen asleep at the wheel after the first 3 hours.
LittleGirl
(8,287 posts)If you can't do that here, then where?
LittleGirl
(8,287 posts)mountain grammy
(26,622 posts)Gonna be a hot July.
I really enjoy your stories.
DFW
(54,397 posts)If you like my stories, check out "The Time Cellar." My biggest yarn ever!
mountain grammy
(26,622 posts)7wo7rees
(5,128 posts)Also congrats on the arrival of your new granddaughter. Wishing much fun on your annual respite.
DFW
(54,397 posts)Good company, clean air, amazing food and over-the-water sunsets.
Thia is what I bust my ass for 11 months out of every year.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)Glad you were able to make your trip to the Cape this year! I know how much it means to you and your wife. I am up in Maine right now for the long weekend. My first time out of my apartment building since March. Have only been out to the market up here but everyone is wearing masks and they make you distance in the stores.
Otherwise, we have just been staying at the house hanging around the pool and grilling out. Hope the weather holds up for you and that you have a great time!
DFW
(54,397 posts)If you are in Boston around the end/beginning of the month, let me know!
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)a la izquierda
(11,795 posts)Layover in Dublin, they made me fill out a form for contact tracing. Arrived in London, no one was there to check my quarantine details. I quarantined and now Im free. Im debating when to fly back. Im safer tucked away in my little corner of Essex, to be very honest. Im also not looking forward to dealing with US immigration in Dublin, except I kind of cant wait until they ask me why I was in England: looking for a flat for when I move in a few months. Such a satisfying answer.
DFW
(54,397 posts)And I haven't been to Ireland ever. So close (geographically), and yet so far away (time available).
It sounds like the PTB are trying to scare people away from traveling, just to reduce the risk of spreading the virus around. The only trouble with that logic is that that ones who might get intimidated into not traveling seem to be the ones who would act most responsibly if they DO travel. The idiots who are the real danger go everywhere and anywhere, and are only too happy to risk infecting themselves and anyone else with whom they come in contact.
a la izquierda
(11,795 posts)I wear masks everywhere. I went into a cafe last night for dinner and a pint, and wore my mask until it was time to drink.
I had to travel. Im moving to England for law school in October and I need to find a flat. Im not at all happy to return to the hellscape that it the US next week. But if the flight back is anything like the one over, all will be fine (and immaculately clean).
DFW
(54,397 posts)The rest is not quite as simple, because the rest involved keeping among people who take those precautions as seriously as you do. In places like where we are now (Massachusetts), it's easy. Back in Dallas, far less so, although some parts of Texas are far worse. I hope I can make it there and back without incident. I realize most do, and I will only be among people who take this as seriously as I do. However, there are a LOT of very mean, stupid people in Texas, and they just don't care.