Marek Airport
Airports in the United States are different. If you travel the world visiting many international airports, be prepared for some differences. One of them is critical to your trip. If you don’t know the baggage transfer rules, you may find that your suitcase (for checked baggage) has taken a different route and you have hand luggage left. You will ask why? I’m already answering.
The rules for checking in luggage look a little different than in other countries. This is important for connecting flights. No matter where your suitcase was dropped, you must pick it up at the first airport in the United States. So, even though we are flying to San Francisco (and that’s where our luggage was dropped) the fact that we have a layover in Minneapolis means that we must pick up our suitcases at this airport, but don’t worry, you don’t have to run to the check-in counter. The process is easier, but it may seem a bit strange. Well, you pick up the suitcases from the belt on which all the luggage is taken from your flight land and transfer it to the adjacent belt, on which the suitcases that fly further land. And that’s it. Very simple, but if we hadn’t done it, our suitcases would have stayed in Minneapolis, and I prefer not to wonder if we would ever see them again.
There are no transfer areas at American airports. As a result, even if you are only transferring to another flight at the airport (e.g. to Mexico), you must have an active ESTA (or visa if you are not covered by the Visa Waiver Program). A mistake can mean deportation, and in this case, your luggage will be the least of your problems.
Immigration clearance is like what you already know but be prepared for a few questions. Of course, the standard is to ask about the purpose of the trip, plans and duration of stay. If you are going to visit, it will be good if you are able to tell something about it. It’s hard to talk about a tourist destination if you can’t name a single place you want to see.
Where do you work, in what position. If you are unemployed, you know, the risk that you have come to work illegally is high. I was also asked a few non-standard questions. The most important thing is whether I have a fiancée (yes, yes, fiancée) in the States, and the immigration officer was not impressed by the fact that I was married, and my wife might have felt jealous. But the most important question that was asked is: do you have sausage or dumplings. My laughter explained the matter unequivocally.
Customs clearance in Minneapolis (it’s a bit different than in other cities) requires a customs declaration. I got a form from the immigration office and was surprised to realize that I didn’t have a pen. No problem, I approached the first airport employee in sight, asked if he could share something for me to write on. He looked at the form I was holding, waved his hand, showed the other to the guy sitting nearby at the customs clearance counter and explained to me: “Don’t fill in anything, just give the blank form to that guy”. Simple?
Continue under the carousel with photos. Click to open the full size of the photo.
Prizon
Curiosity. And did you know that the U.S. government wants to reactivate Alcatraz Prison? Yes, it would be dedicated to illegal immigrants. Fortunately, only as a place of detention before deportation. Comfortable rooms in the size of 1.5 by 2.7 meters. With its own toilet and a comfortable bunk. A stroller with a beautiful view of San Francisco and the bay.
The implementation of the idea, regardless of how we would evaluate it, will not be financially difficult. After all, the prison now generates revenues of $60 million a year. And only from tourism. Judging by the fact that renovations are not very popular here, the costs of maintaining the ruin are small. The buildings, outside the prison block, are in terrible condition, threatening to collapse. They look as if they are about to fall on the heads of tourists, whose curiosity has failed near the ruins.
You can sail on Alcatraz by boat. You don’t have to wait long; they bounce off the shore literally every moment. And they do not float empty. Observing the bay from the deck of the ship, you will understand why San Francisco is referred to as the City of Mists. See the photos above. One moment the air is clear, and you can see the fog from a distance, the next the view drops to a few meters and you feel the moisture falling on your shoulders. Along with the fog, there is an unpleasant smell of sea creatures.
On the island, I found out quite quickly about the huge mistake I had made. I went on a trip in sneakers (I won’t name the brand). Here, to see all the interesting places, you have to do a good few mile. And I am in shoes that are suitable for sitting in an armchair and being promoted. At the end of the tour of the prison, I felt the first blisters on my feet. I decided that when I returned to the mainland, I would first deal with finding a shoe store and buying something comfortable. I left my luggage in a place where I can reach only in the evening.
Okay. And the prison? You can see everything that hasn’t collapsed yet. You can enter the cell, but the most impressive thing is the hole, or prison. Sitting in Alcatraz prison, it was better to behave politely. You can see the technical corridors (you won’t go there) that were used for the famous escape. Kitchens, control rooms, offices, in short, everything worth seeing. You will find that what you could see in one of the Alcatraz movies is 110% true. One will accompany you throughout the tour. These are, of course, bars. And crowds like you of tourists who complain about too many visitors at every turn. Don’t count on a photo that won’t be disfigured by at least a dozen open-mouthed, curious tourists.
In my opinion, the trip turned out to be worth the price and the time spent on the island. The places I saw made me want to be careful not to break the law (not counting exceeding the speed limit on the highway, of course) It’s a pity that my excellent mood was spoiled a bit by my tired feet. I crawled to the return ship, limping on one leg, then on the other. Returning to the mainland means looking for a place where I can buy something more comfortable. In San Francisco, as it will turn out in a moment, it is not so easy, a lot of stores are closed on deaf ears. Why, in the next post.
I invite you to see a few more photos. Click to open the full size of the photo.
