Summer Holidays 6

Be careful when you cross borders........

Passengers on Eurostar need to check in at least 1 hour before for security check and immigration passport stamping.

Had to queue for about 15 minutes.

The first stop was ticket verifying machine.

Followed by French immigration. Nice pleasant lady who was amused with the size of our family.

Careful though... insisted on seeing each child's face before stamping our passports and the children's Carte Circulation pour Mineur fascilitate the process a lot.

Next.. the British immigration. A jovial bald Englishman who did not give us much trouble. Everything was a breeze.

Final check was scanning of luggages and soon we were heading into the departure hall. Since we were early, had more than 30 minutes of waiting.

As a habit, I checked on every passport to ensure no mistakes.
No problem ....until I flipped Hana's passport.....

No stamp on from the British side....

?????? Checked again to be sure.......

Definitely not stamped....

I pulled Hana to the custom officer and told him the problem. The French officer was helpful and brought me to the British counter. The man was gone!!!!

Fortunately one English lady went inside and called him out.

He confirmed the absence of the required stamp and he stamped on Hana's passport.

The French officer said to the British guy about me " Il est trés attentive".

I said,"Bien sur..... sinon c'est seron trés difficile pour nous..."

"Evidentment monsieur"

"Merci beaucoup"

"Au revoir"

Lesson: Always check your passport for immigration stamp after you leave the counter.