Back in black.
22 August 2005I’m back! My batteries are recharged and my inbox is overloaded…
I guess that’s what I get for forcing myself to remain offline for three weeks!
I’ve spent my time recuperating in the US and its 51st state – otherwise known as Canada. I visited the fair cities of Boston and Philadelphia and wandered around in Toronto’s Kensington Market. In short, being “over there” was just fine. However getting there – and coming back – was a different story.
Boarding my Air France flight in Charles de Gaulle resembled a stampede in Pamplona. My Air Canada flight to Toronto offered the unique experience of a shouting flight steward instead of an intercom system and my US Airways flight to Philadelphia was in an aircraft that should have been mothballed along with the Enola Gay.
And I haven’t even mentioned all the passport controls and security clearances. I used to love flying; now it’s just one hassle after another. And even if I can avoid all the worse case scenarios in both the new and old worlds thanks to my dual citizenship, my return to Düsseldforf takes the cake in absurdity.
Achtung! You’re only allowed to bring in 175€ worth of merchandise purchased in a “third country” into the EU. Everything else is Verboten. Now even if the Euro-USD rate is currently very favorable for those of us working in Euroland, 175€ doesn’t buy much more than a nice pair of shoes. Which means that the two iPods I purchased for my godson’s father, as well as assorted articles of clothing for myself, are now being held hostage by German customs officials. Its called “evidence” and my stuff is awaiting processing and eventual fines and taxes. Now if those add up to anywhere near the costs of the undivided attention I received from two customs officials during an hour’s time and the pending three to four weeks case processing, then I’m a monkey’s uncle. And people wonder why the German economy is up the proverbial creek without a paddle…
I mean, historically customs fees were used to raise money, not loose it. But then Germans need all these civil servants to help keep their unemployment rates down… Like they need a hole in the head.
Good luck in the upcoming elections Mr. Schroeder.
Check out these custom’s officials doing what they do best in a Paul Papanek spec film for Coke.
