When I got off the plane in Paris and collected the cat and luggage on a cart and headed to the door clearly marked "customs" I braced myself for a taste of Euro-style bureaucracy. I was a bit worried because the papers I had for Tolsty all said Switzerland on them due to our change of plans. Yes, I do worry a lot in general but I felt justified this time because before the woman at the USDA Veterinary office finally said it would probably be OK she let out a long sigh and said, “They probably aren’t going to like that”. So, here I went through the frosted glass doors ready for a stern glare and an even sterner lecture. I was amazed that the only face waiting for me was a smiling Chizzy. That’s right. Not a single check of anything was done at the airport there. No passport check. No customs. No pet paperwork check. We waltzed right out to the car and now Tolsty and I are wreaking havoc all over the place and nobody knows we arrived unchecked and without lecture.
Laughing about our unfettered access to the country in the carefree days
But now our reign of flying under the radar looks like it is in jeopardy…
ADIC shipped out the first set of boxes on Friday and I got the FedEx tracking numbers this Tuesday morning. To my utter surprise, the guitar was already on the truck for delivery. However, the other box of clothes and electronics and stuff was held up with the ominous message: Shipping Exception – Regulatory agency clearance delay.
It could be a formality for larger boxes containing electronics… or it could be the beginning of a crackdown by the government to systematically intimidate and expose me and Tolsty for not being properly checked at the airport. In either case, I’m off to buy some bread and cheese now.
