Getting Ready for the European Adventure

We're all set.  In less than 24 hours, the European Adventure begins.

We'll fly to Philadelphia, and stay overnight. The next day, we'll fly to Venice.  We'll have three days in Venice before boarding our Azamara Club cruise.  Quite an adventure for a little dog!

There are three things I especially wanted to see in Venice: The Doge's Palace, and the Accademia and Peggy Guggenheim art museums. So I found a travel agency that would "run interference" for us and make sure Xingxing would be allowed to accompany me.  The Accademia was difficult. In the end, they agreed to allow us in, but only if Xingxing was wearing a muzzle.

Problem is, Xingxing doesn't have enough muzzle to fit into a muzzle.  His "muzzle" is less than an inch long!  Trying to buy a muzzle for him was a bit like trying to buy a bra for a five-year-old. We'd walk into a store and I'd say, I'm looking for a muzzle.  The sales person would look at me, look at Xingxing, look back at me and crack up.  What are you afraid he'll do? he'd ask. Kiss someone to death?  We did finally find a mesh muzzle, and get it on.  But I'm not sure how this is going to pan out.

In the interest of making things as easy as I can for both of us, I went ahead and got a Trusted Traveler Card.  You get this from the government.  You apply, they do a background check, and then you go for an interview.  But it's worth it, because you get to go through the security check without taking off your shoes and unpacking your computer, and when you return to the US, you go through Customs at a special kiosk, rather than standing in one of those long lines. I don't so much mind standing in line, but it's rough on Xingxing. People are tired and grumpy and they don't expect a dog to be there and they sometimes step on him.

We also had to procure special papers for Xingxing. More about that tomorrow.

Two Weeks To Go!

In just two weeks, we'll fly to Philadelphia on the first leg of our journey to Venice and beyond.


We've done the microchip thing. Xingxing didn't bat an eye. An organization called Home Again is marketing an "international" microchip that has 15 digits and can be read overseas.  So that's the one we got. I'm assured it will be fine. Fingers firmly crossed!

If you're planning an overseas trip, you must
make sure your dog has a 15-digit microchip, because the older, 9-digit and 10-digit microchips can't be read abroad.  You can either "double-chip" your dog (which is recommended) or you can buy a microchip reader (much more expensive) and take it along with you when you travel.

Xingxing also got another rabies shot, AFTER the microchip was implanted.  This is apparently important, and a requirement of all EU countries. However,  it's also a bit puzzling.  How do the authorities know when your dog got his microchip? The microchip readers read the number, but not -- as far as I know -- the date that the microchip was implanted.  I've posed this question to several people, and none of them seem to know the answer.

So to be on the safe side, I'm going to get a letter (or something) from our veterinarian stating that the microchip was implanted on such and such a date, and the rabies shot was administered on such and such a date.

The other thing we've got is a Global Entry Card. I am now what is called a Trusted Traveler. This means I can use an automated kiosk instead of having to stand in a line for Customs when we return to the United States.  I think it's worth the time and effort, because standing in line with Xingxing can be challenging, especially in an airport situation where people are cranky and tired and don't expect a little dog to be underfoot.  Being a Trusted Traveler also means you don't have to take off your shoes and unpack your computer when you go through airport security.

Anybody can apply for the Global Entry Card.  If it sounds like something you think you'd like to have, you'll find more information on the website at www.goes.gov  There's a small fee, they ask you a lot of questions about your past, and you have to go for an interview.  But it's not all that difficult, and probably well worth it.