03/03/2011
The end of the journey went well, my neighbor woke up 15 minutes before landing so we had a short time to know each other. I just realised that I still don't know his name but he is 22 and studies medecine in Washington. He wanted to go for 2 years in Europe to visit and after 3 months his visa was not renewed... and he had to take a plane back home.... :S Hopefuly I won't have this problem going out of Costa Rica before my 90th day and coming back a day after (or more if I get some holidays^^)... We'll see!
From the plane I was able to spot the famous Brooklyn Bridge but not the Statue of Liberty...I will have to come back to visit the city. I've never been particulary attracted by New York before but seeing it so close and not being able to go there it's a bit maddening!
At New York airport you have 4 security desks....and therefore 4 queues! The first one is to check your passport and your identity: fingers and eyes prints. This part was quite smooth apart for the 1h queue where at least you have time to complete the Customs papers! I didn't have to answer the question "have you come to kill the president" BUT I had the one "have you ever been or are you now involved in espionage or sabotage or in terrorist activities?" ... Huuumm... Let's see...well I used to do some kind of espionage to find where my parents were hiding the christmas presents... do I need to answer Yes???.... Hum.... I don't think so... LOL. The Customs Officer was very nice and helpful and took some time to explain me the next steps. "on the screen you see where you need to go to find your luggage, then go to the right and then first on the left, or if you have another connexion in the USA, go on the third...." My face must have shown something because he smiled and told me "don't worry, it will be cleared once you're there! Bienvenue aux States" LOL And he was right, it was quite easy to find the correct way.
After that you need to find your luggage... and as it took so long to go through the Costums...don't try to go to the conveyor indicated on the screen...it's too late jajaja! It's now an hide and seek in the aiport with your bag but with a little voice in your head "and what if they've lost my bag?"
Second queue to do because they want to check the papers you had to fill during the first queue... If you don't have anything to declare (alcohol, meat, fruits....) or have answered "no" to all of their question, you can go for the last queue...if not...as it was for me, you need to queue once more for the X-ray. As I brought cheese, the first Custom officer told me to go on the X-Ray queue....you wait 15 minutes to be asked:
"-what do you have to declare?"
"-cheese"
"- Then you don't need to come here, go directly to re-check your bag....."
"........."
3rd queue to re chek your bag to the final destination. This one was quite quick: no more than 5 minutes as your bag already has the ticket on it, so you just have to put in on a conveyor and hope to see it again! jajaja
4th is the usual security desk for your hand luggage where you take off shoes, jackets, belt.... and there you are!!!
I thought I would have some time to quickly go and see something in the city center but it was impossible: 2h15 at the Customs just let me time to admire the city from the airport with a Starbucks coffee and a Cup Cake!
Fauve: You need to come here, I found you a job in the perfect shop for you!!
