You will love Catcha!
You will love Catcha!
We come prepared: bring your Jamaica towels, beads, hats, and t-shirts. You won't appear to be a "Newbie". No thanks works great. Years ago we also did as someone else suggested, we handed out candies (those sucker type rings) and everyone seemed please. You cannot possibly buy something from everyone you meet.
July 1993*, Feb 2003, Aug 2005, April 2007, Feb 2008, Feb 2009, April 2010, Nov 2010, Nov 2011, Nov 2012, March 2013*, Nov 2013, Nov 2014, March 2015*, Nov 2015*, April 2016*, Oct 2016, Nov 2017*, May 2018*, Nov 2018*, Oct/Nov 2019*, Dec 2020*, Dec 2021*, May 2022* (Portland), Dec 2022* (Irish Town/Strawberry Hill), Dec 2023*, Dec 2024*, Dec 2025*
Thanks, Rob- will definitely be in touch! We don't go until Feb, but sure looking forward to it!
Vi- I've been reading your trip report from last Summer... so entertaining, and I'm only on page 18. I love the way you write- It's like reading a good book, hard to put down!
Like Shelly, we will usually buy something from the vendors we will be seeing often during our stay. Beth's bracelet collection is growing and so it my carved wooden pipe collection.
It's rare that encounters ever get anywhere near what I would call harassment. Annoying...at times yes. When I'm not in the mood I take a cab to wherever I'm going.
Do you ever have any trouble bringing them home? We've been searched for no reason at PHL customs a couple times, and wouldn't want to give the agents any more reason to detain us - even if the pipe is clean.
I actually did buy a pipe a couple years back, but I ended up leaving it at the hotel.
Yup, but even an unused pipe might give the customs agents a reason to search you and your luggage further. Just want to avoid the hassle.
When I was college I was once stopped at the Canadian border, and an immigration official found a pack of EZ Widers in my glove box. They then detained me and my friends inside the building while they tore apart our luggage and the interior of my car. Of course, we weren't stupid enough to be bringing any contraband over the border, but it is a hassle I would rather not relive.
Ya'll should see Linston's collection of used pipes!
Cap