The line for passport control was enormous, but we've never been in a line that moved so quickly. The agent was completely stamp-happy. He was stamping passports so fast that when we handed him our stack of five, he was half way through stamping them before he even noticed that we all had visas. Then he had to go back and stamp them all again on the visa page - or at least half of the stamp landed on the visa page. Josh is convinced he had a hangover. "Welcome to Italy - where all are welcome!"
Our luck continued: the first 11 items that came off the baggage carousel were ALL ours! We did get a lot of stares. Was it because we had so much luggage? Or, because we got our luggage so fast. (We learned later that just last week the mayor of Rome waited an hour and a half for his luggage and vowed to investigate and fine the airport operator).
We were well past customs when I asked Josh where it was. Apparently, we'd already cleared without having filled out a single form nor seeing any sign of an agent. I guess they figure all the very best goods are Italian so what could you be bringing in five duffels, five boxes and 4 roller-boards?
The only frustrating part of entering the country; the only thing that didn't go completely smoothly, was the squabble over how much we owed Aeroporti di Roma for using a porter to transport our belongs from the baggage carousel to the curb. It should have been 40 euros (4 euros per bag - a hefty fee) but the officious agent was charging us 60 euros claiming our luggage to be "oversized." An argument ensued which Josh eventually won since we had been quoted the lower price at the carousel. But she was a real pit-bull.
Now, Avery and I piled in to the van with all our luggage and Josh and the girls waited for the ride to Peugeot to pick up our leased car.
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