On 8/22/13, R D <[log in to unmask]> wrote: >Nell, I travel light. A couple of suitcases and my animals would be >more than enough for me. Leave the suitcases and run! Hi Renee -- Yes, I know many people do well traveling light. I'm the opposite -- I love having things. "Love" isn't even the right word -- perhaps "rely deeply on having things" is it. Not considered a cool characteristic, but it's me, deep down. I doubt that anyone here is going to accuse me of witchcraft -- after all, I'm "just a foreigner" -- but I might still decide to leave without my things because this whole situation is making me crazy. Yesterday in AA I got good and bad news at the Ministry. The good well outweighs the bad -- e.g., I can sell the car before closing the business, so of course I'll just leave without closing it! Also, the ex-criminal car buyer knows people at the police station and knows how to bribe them (Yow), and is no longer so impatient that the sale is in danger. The bad news is that, since the sales-invoice/receipt pad had 3 unused, the gov't is charging me tax based on 3 times the amount of the largest amount I've ever billed. What can I say, other than #$@&^%!!! and that they love levying fines. Also, as you've already seen, thievery is a national past-time, so they assume that I am hiding 3 sales to avoid paying taxes. For animal transport, Lufthansa has the best prices and one of the best services, but its baggage restrictions are steep: One suitcase and one carry-on. Extra baggage charges are steep. $200 for the smallest item, $750 for the largest, which is not very large. I've got very little back in the US--brought my things here in 2008. To lose it pains me. Just imagine figuring out what to take that will fit in one suitcase and one carry-on. Shoes and boots that fit my twisted-up feet, my computer, camera, sewing machine+tools, exercise machine (oh that machine is glorious, but what am I doing listing it here -- !), things I've had for up to 50 years, the clock my parents bought on their honeymoon, clothing I love, bedding that comforts me and correctly supports my neck and back and hip problems, snapshots (including my father's from WWII), my Persian and other rugs, important books, tax papers, beloved clothes, dishes, and costume jewelery, etc etc. ETC. But I am still hoping I'll get to sell the car, and then I can send some things as cargo. If not, I unpack everything that's boxed up and make some exasperating and painful choices. [Posted in FML 7885]