We arrive in Port of Spain and I was hit with the thick warm air that had a subtle sweet smell of a nice cigar. I wander through the terminal to customs. I didn’t realize that the mayhem that was customs and immigration was typical for all governmental services in Trinidad.
There really was no organized line, we all just grouped together in a big mass slowly moving towards the less than efficient immigration folks. I handed over my passport and immigration form (eventually) and was asked what my purpose was (pleasure) and where I was staying (with EAD) and the address (unknown, let me look): “Eh, not necessary”, she said as she stamped me and waved me through to immigration.
Baggage claim was a mess too. I don’t understand why people who fly to the Caribbean travel with half a dozen suitcases each. Luggage carts were stacked high as the passengers pushing them to the large gymnasium sized room that housed two x-ray machines. I didn’t see any proper lines or directions, so I start walking towards the exit, bypassing the machines and heading straight outside. Evidently I was supposed to go through some other sort of screening/review process.
Such is life, right? I made it through the three ring circus that was customs relatively quickly and found EAD waiting with a ton of other folks for their friends and loved ones to emerge from the gymnasium.
I am here Trinidad!