Grant arrived yesterday morning and spent the afternoon catching a few Z's since he didn't sleep well on the plane. Then he , Mary and I went out for a very nice dinner not far away..when we came back to the Hotel, Bill and Trey had just arrived!
And so, here is the happy ending of "the rest of the story!" After going back to the port yesterday morning, and with the help of a wonderful gentleman from Sea Song who was assisting them, they proceeded to discuss their entry situation with the Port Police. The Port police would not stamp the entry on their passports. The boys could prove they had been on the ship-- they had their ship cards and Oceania faxed over the official passenger list. However, they still refused to stamp the passport. At some point, they thought they could just pay a fine and they would let them transit. That turned out not to be the case. They did tell them they could leave if they agreed to go on a list that would never allow them back in the country. Both guys didn't want to be on that kind of list. Finally, the Port police wrote them a letter that they said would work with the airport police. It was a letter saying that they had, in fact, disembarked from the ship, on the 22nd. WRONG! When they went back to the airport, the passport control authorities still said no, the letter didn't work. The gentleman from Sea Song who was assisting the guys, had a lengthy discussion with the man in charge. Both of the two police forces were in "opposite corners!" It looked like the guys were caught in a never ending circle with both police sides telling the other side "no!" Finally, the Sea Song rep told the airport police that the guys had Mary's luggage and that they had all her medications with them. He told the authorities that she was 87 and needed her medication or she'd die. With that note, the guy said "Ok, go to passport control 14 and have him call me". So off they go. When they get to number 14, the policeman takes Trey's passport and begins to very slowly thumb through the pages from front to back. He finally looks at Trey and says: "There's no entry stamp." Trey says: "Yes, I know. That's why you are to call this number ". The policeman calls but looks very unhappy. He hangs up,the phone and starts thumbing through the passport again- slowly, page by page. Trey said even the guy from Sea Song who was watching looked apprehensive because if this didn't work I don't think anyone knew what the next step would be! FINALLY, the guy stamped the exit Page and gave Trey back his passport. He followed suit with Bill. Two GIANT sighs of relief! They proceeded to the waiting area and got on the plane! YEA!!!!!!! So many thank you's to the consummate professionals at Sea Song and Arlene Feen at Pro Travel who had a sleepless night getting the whole situation sorted!
We are now thoroughly enjoying a relaxing day in London. Tomorrow is the Miami Dolphin/Oakland Raider football game at Wembly Stadium! It will be packed! A sold out venue! Home our Dolphins "right their ship" tomorrow. We will be cheering them on!
Views from our suite at the Savoy.
Duffy taking a "cat nap!"
And the story will be told for many years to come adding embellishments along the way
ReplyDeleteI kept singing that song will they ever return oh will they ever return -
Charlie riding on the MTA