Saturday, March 20, 2010

The Enigma of Arrival

Flight was eventless...Will definately fly WestJet again instead of Air Canada.

Getting out to the airport in Nassau was a nightmare. We waited in line for 1 hour. There were only 4 booths\officers taking their sweet time with clearing the backlog of 3-4 flights arrival at about the same time. In order to remedy this situation, a live band came on the band stand reserved for just this situation. Which means it happens all the time! After an hour, I had move about 15 feet. Finally fed up with the waiting I went to the front of the line, to see if more booths couldn't be opened up. Or at least they could put the band to work clearing the backlog of tourists.

I asked to speak to a supervisor...such a North American thing to do! I was told to go into an inner office, where there were about 10 customs officers and one head honcho identified by a single star on his epaulet. Totally ignored and told to sit, I decided to stand with hands folded in front of my crotch. Defiance with a touch of subservience.

When a woman, amply stacked, looked at my passport, she wondered why I was in the office. I told her I was going to be late for a meeting at the Sheraton and told this to the guy at the booth and then he sent me in. Note: Playing dumb is good, making up lies can be helpful. She asked me which guy sent you here....I said I couldn't remember which guy, but it was a guy...not a girl.

She said, come with me. We went to an unoccupied booth. She stamped my passport and immigration document and voila! Out the door to greet my friend and enjoy the weather!

I love the third world.

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