---A while back I asked about taking a bike with me to Cuba . . . a gift for my girlfriend. Most of that is in part I of my story. When I first weighed the bike in box it was around 40 lbs . . . so I thought I would add a few things--- 4 or 5 packs of Starbucks coffee, and 10 packs of that Charmin soft toilet paper I like so much . . . I thought it would be good padding and also useful when I got there. The last time I visited my friend (I have been staying at his house for over 10 years now) . . . his toilet seat was missing. I never said anything but I must say there are some small comforts I miss . . . so I went out and bought a nice soft padded seat and put it in the bike box. It fit . . . just right . . . no problem . . .until the Cuba flight.
---When I got to Ft. Lauderdale I was told the box was not allowed and after (what seemed like hours) going from one manager to another they said if I had it "bubble wrapped" I could take it that way. So I had to empty the box . . . and what started at 40 lbs was now 70 lbs. I did my best to add to my carry-on, stuffed my pockets with coffee and figure what to leave behind . . . the 10 packs of T-paper I had to sacrifice but I didn't want to give up my T-seat.
---The plane was full (they always say that) . . . so only 2 items allowed. I have my computer and a carry-on bag that is popping at the seams. . . I got the T-seat under my arm. The first guy at the ramp says to me, What is that? It's my travel pillow I answer . . . I open up the lid and put it on my head . . . he can't stop laughing and tells me to go on. I put it back under my arm and board the plane . . . same thing at the door. What is that? My travel pillow I answer. "Captain look at this," she says, "He says it's a travel pillow."
The crew is having a fit of laughter. I take my seat and put the T-seat up top (not a good travel pillow). Later when I'm going through customs I see 4 of the customs ladies going over the seat . . ."It is so soft," I hear one of them say . . . and I'm afraid they are going to take it.
---I'll share another of my transport tricks . . . I have a heavy-duty raincoat with extra large pockets . . . I have found that I can fill up the pockets with over 20 lbs of candy . . . chocolate bars, M & Ms, and tootsie roll pops are well liked. (A nice water bottle filled with M &Ms is one of my favorite gifts.)
---I get to my friend's house with my new soft T-seat and guess what? . . . not one piece of T-paper--- Another tip- I always travel with a large pack of baby wipes.
---To be continued . . .
Haha...
If you don't mind, since we are talking travel stories.
On one trip back to Cuba, my wife, because of weight restrictions.. She has a PRE so is limited to 30 kilos going into Cuba. Excess is charged at 10cuc/kilo.
So, she does the clothes layering thing.. Just an example... 4 tights, jeans on top, 4 bras, 5 blouses, then 2 dresses on top of all that and a couple of hoodies. This trip she overdid it. The whole body scanner couldn't penetrate all that cloth. They started asking her to take some stuff off. Nope, still didn't work. Take more stuff off. Still didn't work. They ended up taking her to a room where she pretty much had to take everything off... She was finally let go.... Put everything back on and boarded the flight. No problem in Cuba.
I watched the whole thing from outside the security area, since i was not going to Cuba on that trip.
Waiting for your... To be continued
Good stories both of you.
I like to travel with just carry-on and layer myself silly with clothes as well. One good thing is that I don't need a winter coat to the airport.
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