Transporting personal items for holiday home - Page 2

Hi Kevin

Hopefully by now you are in Spain and enjoying the weather (or not) forecasts don't give a good outlook at the moment. How did you get on with your journey at border control? Were you searched or just moved on? 

Enjoy your stay

Regards 

Pauline 

Hi Pauline   yes we are here in Fortuna enjoying the marvellous weather!!

We have a lot of work to do on the casa though, so the absent sun isn't too big a cross to bear.

We were pulled over by both sets of border control,  which I was truly expecting because the car was packed solid to the ceiling. 

I felt that UK were only really interested in drugs I suspect; very pleasant,  we had to get out of the car, open all doors, and answer questions about who packed the vehicle and whether it had been left unattended.  I assume they are trained to listen to responses,  because they didn't touch anything in the car, but did run a mirror underneath it.

Spain looked like it was going to be more complicated,  with lots of Guardia in the check area that we were diverted to... but ultimately most of them seemed to be chatting amiably to one another! 

I was asked to open the side door only... which showed the density of packing (to his horror probably), and I told him in well rehearsed Spanish that it was all personal items, and very old. There was a large wooden ottoman visible which he asked about, so I showed him my lists of everything that was in it. He must have looked at the list for all of 5 seconds!!!  Then waved us through.... again I suspect he was watching my body language,  and probably not interested in making work for himself unloading so much gear.

Interestingly though, he wasn't really interested in my itemisation lists and valuations, and I had valued it at 690€.... for two people. 

Hopefully our experience will put a few people's minds at rest; it would appear that everyone is interested in contraband not a bunch of personal effects 😊

Thanks Kevin for the update, definitely putting some people's mind at rest. Yes you certainly left no inch unpacked, well done. Enjoy rest of your stay. 

Regards 

Pauline