The flight from SF to Amsterdam was only mildy painful, Tyler slept a good chunk of the way and ate well and only threw minimal tantrums when the flight attendants instructed us to return to our seats from our unending aisle cruising due to turbulence. I was just as happy to sit down as I'm sure many of the passengers were who were victims of Tyler's leg grabbing as he steadied himself down the aisles - it was totally amusing watching people jump and then look over to see this little kid staring at them! But no, the real fun came when we were making our way through the Amsterdam airport to make our connection, which we were running late for since our flight coming in was delayed. What a confusing airport! I had to go to some random transfer counter because when I tried checking in to the connecting flight via self-check-in machine outside the gate we came in to it rejected my attempt. I was worried the flight was cancelled due to the volcanic ash drama or something, but there seemed to be nothing wrong except that I had to unnecessarily worry as I watched the clock ticking while the transfer counter lady slowly checked me in and then told me which gate to go to and how to get there...first through passport control. No problem - so I thought. The passport control officer seemed nice enough, he was young and attractive and taking extra time looking at our passports - yeah my photo is pretty heinous, different color & length of hair, pre-invisalign, pre-rhinoplasty, but it's me, i swear! oh yeah, and pre-name change - that's been on my to do list since I don't know how long. well, since almost 3 years ago when I got married actually, that's how long. So my passport still has my first married name on it :( Never thought it would be an issue...until the nice officer asks me how old my son is and I say "14 1/2 months" (duh, can't he read his birthdate right there on his passport?) and he asks "why do you have a different name than him?" and I reply "oh yeah, i've been meaning to change that since I got married, that's my old name" and then the thundering question that nearly sent me to the floor "how do I know this is your son?" I think my chin hit tyler on the head, chillin out in the carrier I was wearing, as my jaw dropped open. "What??" I asked? "How do I know this is your son, you have different names!" and as my mind raced as to how I could prove it short of showing him my stretched out...ahem...I looked down at Tyler and then up at the guy and said "well just look at him, he's happy and content with me." That wasn't good enough for the officer though. "We are very strict here due to child kidnapping, if you can't show me some kind of proof that this is your child we will have to detain you and call your embassy." I searched through my carry-on bag for anything that had showed my last name as Baer but there was nothing! I had left my driver's license at home and who carries their Social
Security card around with them? My credit card also only shows Ciaccio. Next thing I know I'm being passed off to another young, attractive officer who beckons me behind the passport control booth and reiterates what the first officer said to me. Again I was asked "how can you prove this is your son?" and again all I could say was "look at him? he's happy with me" but of course that wasn't any good. I told him how common it is in the United States to have a different name than your child due to divorce, etc. and that I just didn't think this would be a problem or I would have made sure I changed my passport before traveling. My mind continued to reel over the next possible course of events - would I miss my flight to Prague? How would I get in touch with April waiting at the airport? Were they going to take Tyler away from me? How could this be happening?! In a momentary flash of genius (!!) I exclaimed "OH, I have pictures of him on my phone!" and of course the guy was like "no, that's not good enough." He left me alone for a minute while he...I don't know what, consulted his superior maybe? Or scanned my passport again to make sure I had no record?? I'm not sure, but by sheer luck or my guardian angel stepping in the officer came back and handed me our passports and told me he hoped I was telling the truth and sent me on my way!! Holy Crap!! I was a total zombie the rest of the time in the airport, which seemed to drag, and then on the little plane for the short flight to Prague. Tyler slept the whole way and I ordered 2 beers from the flight attendant even though it was still mid-morning. Duuuuuuuuuuuuude! #1-I'm glad I'm not going back through Amsterdam on my way home #2-I hope Paris isn't as strict #3-I'm changing my passport as soon as I get home!
All that drama behind us, when we arrived in Prague (NO passport control at all!!! couldn't even get our passports stamped for posterity!) and saw April's face waiting for us everything stressful melted away. We hugged so tight and long, I had dreamed of that moment. Then she looked down at Tyler and her expression was of pure happiness and peace. He wasn't so sure about her right away, but I know he was just so out of it anyway. She showed us the way to her apt via bus and tram and a little walk in the misting rain, my body vibrating from pulling my huge suitcase over the cobblestone streets. Up some stairs and in a tiny, euro elevator and we arrived at her place. Her place is so cute and her flatmates so nice - Lukas (pronounced Lukash, with a hachek accent or mini "v" over the s) and Simona, young Chemistry students and owners of adorable Ariel (a Basenji - a non-barking dog that looks a lot like a little deer) which they pronounce like "ah-die" for short. I collapsed on April's bed shortly and then we were out to see a little bit since the day was still young, even though I felt like the walking dead. We had a beer at the little pub right downstairs and around the corner from April's place - beer is very commonly drunk here, more so than water because it is cheaper (the water, by the way, from the tap tastes just as good as in San Francisco!) and it is also higher in alcohol :) We had a little snack too, VERY yummy but not low-cal at all, some fried bread and "beery cheese" which was a salty, head-cheesey, orange spread that smelled slightly reminiscent of Tyler's dirty diapers but just like those stinky cheeses that you can't resist (unless you are the people who can) you just reveled in the raunch as you devoured it! Next we walked to this big park park where dogs were running free and playing together and the smell of Lilacs filled the air - the bushes are everywhere in light purple, dark purple and white blossoms. There was an amazing view of Old Towne below with all the steeples and rooftops and the castle in the distance. We had dinner at a little place in the neighborhood called Chuduba where I ordered a traditional Czech meal - goulash and dumplings, and of course another beer! Fully stuffed, we waddled back home as the light was finally fading for the day at 9:15 p.m. I crossed my fingers that Tyler would be able to sleep and we crawled into bed on the pull out sofa in April's room and our full day of travel and first impressions of Prague drifted away as we fell asleep.
Security card around with them? My credit card also only shows Ciaccio. Next thing I know I'm being passed off to another young, attractive officer who beckons me behind the passport control booth and reiterates what the first officer said to me. Again I was asked "how can you prove this is your son?" and again all I could say was "look at him? he's happy with me" but of course that wasn't any good. I told him how common it is in the United States to have a different name than your child due to divorce, etc. and that I just didn't think this would be a problem or I would have made sure I changed my passport before traveling. My mind continued to reel over the next possible course of events - would I miss my flight to Prague? How would I get in touch with April waiting at the airport? Were they going to take Tyler away from me? How could this be happening?! In a momentary flash of genius (!!) I exclaimed "OH, I have pictures of him on my phone!" and of course the guy was like "no, that's not good enough." He left me alone for a minute while he...I don't know what, consulted his superior maybe? Or scanned my passport again to make sure I had no record?? I'm not sure, but by sheer luck or my guardian angel stepping in the officer came back and handed me our passports and told me he hoped I was telling the truth and sent me on my way!! Holy Crap!! I was a total zombie the rest of the time in the airport, which seemed to drag, and then on the little plane for the short flight to Prague. Tyler slept the whole way and I ordered 2 beers from the flight attendant even though it was still mid-morning. Duuuuuuuuuuuuude! #1-I'm glad I'm not going back through Amsterdam on my way home #2-I hope Paris isn't as strict #3-I'm changing my passport as soon as I get home!
All that drama behind us, when we arrived in Prague (NO passport control at all!!! couldn't even get our passports stamped for posterity!) and saw April's face waiting for us everything stressful melted away. We hugged so tight and long, I had dreamed of that moment. Then she looked down at Tyler and her expression was of pure happiness and peace. He wasn't so sure about her right away, but I know he was just so out of it anyway. She showed us the way to her apt via bus and tram and a little walk in the misting rain, my body vibrating from pulling my huge suitcase over the cobblestone streets. Up some stairs and in a tiny, euro elevator and we arrived at her place. Her place is so cute and her flatmates so nice - Lukas (pronounced Lukash, with a hachek accent or mini "v" over the s) and Simona, young Chemistry students and owners of adorable Ariel (a Basenji - a non-barking dog that looks a lot like a little deer) which they pronounce like "ah-die" for short. I collapsed on April's bed shortly and then we were out to see a little bit since the day was still young, even though I felt like the walking dead. We had a beer at the little pub right downstairs and around the corner from April's place - beer is very commonly drunk here, more so than water because it is cheaper (the water, by the way, from the tap tastes just as good as in San Francisco!) and it is also higher in alcohol :) We had a little snack too, VERY yummy but not low-cal at all, some fried bread and "beery cheese" which was a salty, head-cheesey, orange spread that smelled slightly reminiscent of Tyler's dirty diapers but just like those stinky cheeses that you can't resist (unless you are the people who can) you just reveled in the raunch as you devoured it! Next we walked to this big park park where dogs were running free and playing together and the smell of Lilacs filled the air - the bushes are everywhere in light purple, dark purple and white blossoms. There was an amazing view of Old Towne below with all the steeples and rooftops and the castle in the distance. We had dinner at a little place in the neighborhood called Chuduba where I ordered a traditional Czech meal - goulash and dumplings, and of course another beer! Fully stuffed, we waddled back home as the light was finally fading for the day at 9:15 p.m. I crossed my fingers that Tyler would be able to sleep and we crawled into bed on the pull out sofa in April's room and our full day of travel and first impressions of Prague drifted away as we fell asleep.
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