We drove over the border and back today, our first time "on US soil" - as the wingnuts love to say - since our landing.
It was uneventful, on the outside - the fewest number of questions we've ever been asked, in both directions. But it felt momentous to me. We zipped over to the Buffalo airport and dealt with the rental car exchange. Then we drove home. To Canada.
21 comments:
I'm glad it went smoothly for you. Twice I've been refused entry to the US -- that's always annoying, especially when you're stuck in downtown Windsor with no bus home for eight hours.
It feels so nice to come home doesn't it? :-)
i am really enjoying reading about your move (even though i came late to the game, as it were)
so many of us in the developed world live in big cities but hanker after another life, a different life someplace a little less hectic but few of us actually do it
so thanks for the insight - i'm keeping watching because a similar move might be on the cards for me one of these days...
Kyahgirl: Yeah! It was cool. I imagine I'll feel that way when I go back to NYC, which is also nice.
James: Valid US passport and nothing to declare, two white people w/out Arabic-sounding names, it would be odd to be refused entry. The only time we ever had trouble was going into Canada once, we had forgotten our passports. What was your trouble from?
Urban Chick, thank you so much for saying that. I often feel uncomfortable - blogging feels so self-centered and self-absorbed sometimes. Then someone tells me that reading my blog does them some good, and it makes me feel better. :)
I didn't really leave to get a less hectic life, I feel that is pretty much in my control no matter where I live. But I did end up going from big city to quiet (beautiful!) suburb right outside big city, which was just a terrific stroke of luck at this point in my life.
In any case, thanks for reading and letting me know.
You might have felt at home in certain parts of the City of Toronto proper, like Yorkville or the Annex, or the Beaches. But aside from the Beaches, they're slightly removed from the lake. And, in my humble opinion as a 905er at heart, nothing like as charming as Port Credit. :) Your instincts were well-served when you stopped for chow that day.
Valid US passport and nothing to declare, two white people w/out Arabic-sounding names, it would be odd to be refused entry.
The first time: valid Canadian passport, single Canadian with Mennonite name, turned back at the border for no reason, and told not to make it worse for myself when I asked why.
The second time: three white Canadians with valid passports, turned back at the border for importing personal artwork to sell at a comic book convention. Had to drive back to Hamilton, drop off the artwork, and cross the border again (extra four hours on the trip). Got to the con, photocopied the artwork at Kinkos there, sold it.
No sense at all.
And, in my humble opinion as a 905er at heart, nothing like as charming as Port Credit. :)
Plus, we couldn't have afforded space in Toronto, and that's a high priority. We lived outside the main drags in NYC, too, in order to get a large apt.
Your instincts were well-served when you stopped for chow that day.
And my luck runneth over at finding our little house on our wonderful little street.
If you like it better in Mississauga, why don't you relocate? Or is that a very personal and complicated question, in which case, never mind.
told not to make it worse for myself when I asked why.
Friggin border guards on power trip. I had one make a snide remark about Allan and I having different last names. (Not this trip, a while back.)
No sense at all.
None. Crazy!
Good Morning L-Girl
ALPF
I was able to find this story on several Canadian sites, European sites and Asian sites...not one American site however.
Last night on CNN they talked about all the International help (right down to some generators that South Africa was providing)with not one mention of Canada?
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http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N07222207.htm
Thanks ALPF! Nice to be back to our old routine. :)
Friggin border guards on power trip.
I think it was enhanced jumpiness because Clinton's inauguration was that weekend or something, I'm not sure.
On one occasion I was nearly turned back for only having $50 in cash on me. Bank card and credit card didn't count.
Friggin border guards on power trip.....On one occasion I was nearly turned back for only having $50 in cash on me. Bank card and credit card didn't count.
Wow. I've always sailed right through the border, without a passport. They usually ask just the boring "where are you from, where are you going, how long are you staying" things and then wave me through.
I've always sailed right through the border, without a passport.
I've always just sailed through too - but now you do need a passport. They can let you through without it, at their own discretion, so it's best to carry it and avoid potential hassle.
I've always just sailed through too - but now you do need a passport.
Technically you still don't need a passport.
The entry requirements haven't officially changed yet (Canadian citizens need proof of citizenship, but not a passport). They are planning to make passports mandatory (for both Canadians, and Americans re-entering the U.S.), but that doesn't take effect until January 1, 2006.
Once the change takes effect, I probably won't cross the border on impromptu trips anymore. In that frugal Canadian mode again, it's $80 a pop every five years......I'll only go through the hassle for an actual planned vacation.
Impromptu border crossings might seem odd to some Americans, but Canada's 4 largest cities are all less then 100km (~62 miles) from the border....
Although, I'm pretty sure Calgary will replace Ottawa as Canada's 4th largest soon. Calgary is a bit farther, about 250km (162 mi) from the border.
Impromto border crossings don't seem odd at all to me, coming from New York State. When I used to visit Allan in Burlington, VT, we'd go to Montreal for the day.
Not keeping a valid passport because of the expense, however, seems bizarre.
I forgot the new regulations don't actually go into effect until the New Year. It's easier to have your passport with you now, since many of the border guards are acting as if the new laws are already in effect.
Wow. I've always sailed right through the border, without a passport.
Most of the time I've sailed through. I've just had three or four problem encounters.
Not keeping a valid passport because of the expense, however, seems bizarre.
It's not really the expense, its an excuse. It seems like such as hassle for something we never needed before terrorism paranoia took over.
Most Canadians won't bother to hold a valid passport just to make hops across the border. Going to the U.S. will involve the same sort of planning and preparation that going abroad requires. Expect a dramatic drop in cross border crossings. Its not the end of capital-T trips to places like Las Vegas or Orlando, but it is the end of visiting small border towns just for fun.
That makes sense. Although if you have a valid passport for other travels, it's not a big deal to carry it for shorter, impromptu trips. Though I certainly agree it's ridiculous paranoia.
I am all for passport for entry to the US, it will cut down on cross border shopping for sure!
I have never had a problem going across the border, half the time I haven't even had my birth certificate (when driving across). The toughest grilling I have had was when travelling to Las Vegas to go to a convetion. They wanted to make sure I wasn't going to be presenting anything...
So much for tough security.
Peter
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