Well, I'll tell ya.
Everything went to plan.
Taxi from my house on time, check in on SW Air a breeze.
The flight had maybe 70 people on board. No problems.
Went to the line fro immigration with out a wait.
Excellent!!
Then things started to get a little bit crazy.
The lady said "Go to #14 Immigration desk"
I went there and flashed my 007 smile on the lady and she looked serious.
Where are you staying?,
where is your reservation?
Who is the contact person?
etc, etc.
I had all the answers, but she kept flipping through my passport book about 25 times.
(what is she looking for?)
how many times are you going to view those 4-5 pages?
After a million questions she finally smiled and started asking me about
when I was going to retire and move to Jamaica?
She seemed like a different person once she started to smile and joke a bit.
Oh, now I get it.
She just wanted to keep me there to chat me up.
Done with that, so I walked out to get my luggage and saw the Duty Free Liquor lady.
Hmmm, that Appleton Rum bottle looked nice, so I got one.
Now, to the luggage.
I rounded the corner and saw only my 2 bags sitting all by their lonesome.
An airport worker was staring down at these 2 bags like they had been abandoned.
Geez Louise, that immigration lady kept me there forever!!
"Yo, yo , these are mine!
So I started to wheel them out and when I looked ahead I saw there was absolutely nobody in the custom line.
3 custom ladies were standing together talking.
As I approached one of the ladies stepped forward and asked me how long was I staying?
"seven days" I said.
She looked at my luggage and said
"why so many bags for 7 days"
I had 2 rolling bags and a book bag, stuffed on my back.
They are clothes, just clothes, I said.
I had gifts and toys of course.
"Go to the line over there.
I turned and looked at the "to Declare" line.
My knees started shaking.
Go mon, go over there!
This new line had about 4 Locals with about 5-6 suitcases a piece.
Aw man, *(%$#*(&^%$$*()) Arrrggghh!!
Those employees had them open every single suitcase and
peeped in every single plastic bag.
After 25 minutes It was my turn.
"Open the bags, place them on the table."
I grabbed the one with a bunch of toys and opened it.
She looked and looked and took stuff out.
"Next suitcase, please"
She did the same thing.
"what's in that book bag on your back?
"oh, its my laptop"
Open it up"
She went through it too.
"How much for all the gifts?
Um, about $40.00 US.
"Ok go on", she said.
I hope I never have to go through that again.
I was nervous,
even though I had toys and a few school supplies.
She never got to the new Tablet and cell phone under my socks underwear.