A short trip with initial difficulties ends happily

[Mazat]

Yesterday afternoon, we wanted to visit various garden centers in Austria again. As always, we were very excited.
However, after customs, we were abruptly stopped by the police. We stopped and I was asked to show my papers and vehicle registration immediately. At first there were two of them, then four more police officers joined them, making a total of six. They weren't interested in Sabine at all. They passed my ID card around, discussed it, and then asked me to get out of the car.
I wanted to say something, but was immediately interrupted with questions about whether I had been drinking alcohol, whether I used or sold drugs. Of course, I answered no, which is the truth.
They looked at me again and I asked if I looked like someone they were looking for.
The answer was a relieved “no” from the police chief and I could continue driving, as this was just a routine check.
I got back in the car. Sabine was surprised, but calm, and when we drove on, she just smiled and said that it was never boring with me.
We drove to the garden center, and while I was talking to a salesperson, Sabine came up and said, “Look, that's a Chamaedorea metallica, and we can get it for 30 USDA, okay?” I was speechless again, once more...
She just said, “See, it's good I was with you...”
So, what a happy end 🤗

[happypalms]

Nice score definitely worth the police interrogations. I travelled from Hungary once to Croatia took me two hours at the Croatian border, they gad my passport and I was going nowhere fast. It was due to the fact I was with my German friends, apparently they thought they had a drug mule yer right I thought, but i wasn’t going to muck with the Croatian police that’s for sure. Then in Croatia we got pulled over twice and the vehicle searched both times. They must have thought we got ourselves a winner here.

[Harry’s Palms]

That is a deal on the Metallica! Easy peasy to grow and very nice looking , unique. They are quite happy in pots , no direct sun. I have a large one that gets morning sun and the fronds are a bit smaller and the tips burn a bit ,  but they just keep on growing happily . 
  It’s not fun being pulled over and questioned , I can’t imagine in a foreign country. I got pulled over once going to work on the midnight shift . I was cruising along on a summer night in my convertible with the top down . I had cruise control set at speed limit , music playing , and looking forward to getting work done . I asked why they pulled me over , they said I was swerving. I said no , I was not swerving . “How much have you had to drink?” I lifted my coffee cup and said that I was on my way to work , I don’t drink alcohol at all….never. They let me go. Harry

[Harry’s Palms]

1 hour ago, happypalms said:

Nice score definitely worth the police interrogations. I travelled from Hungary once to Croatia took me two hours at the Croatian border, they gad my passport and I was going nowhere fast. It was due to the fact I was with my German friends, apparently they thought they had a drug mule yer right I thought, but i wasn’t going to muck with the Croatian police that’s for sure. Then in Croatia we got pulled over twice and the vehicle searched both times. They must have thought we got ourselves a winner here.

Palm seed smuggler 😂, what , no apples? Harry

[Phoenikakias]

2 hours ago, Mazat said:

Yesterday afternoon, we wanted to visit various garden centers in Austria again. As always, we were very excited.
However, after customs, we were abruptly stopped by the police. We stopped and I was asked to show my papers and vehicle registration immediately. At first there were two of them, then four more police officers joined them, making a total of six. They weren't interested in Sabine at all. They passed my ID card around, discussed it, and then asked me to get out of the car.
I wanted to say something, but was immediately interrupted with questions about whether I had been drinking alcohol, whether I used or sold drugs. Of course, I answered no, which is the truth.
They looked at me again and I asked if I looked like someone they were looking for.
The answer was a relieved “no” from the police chief and I could continue driving, as this was just a routine check.
I got back in the car. Sabine was surprised, but calm, and when we drove on, she just smiled and said that it was never boring with me.
We drove to the garden center, and while I was talking to a salesperson, Sabine came up and said, “Look, that's a Chamaedorea metallica, and we can get it for 30 USDA, okay?” I was speechless again, once more...
She just said, “See, it's good I was with you...”
So, what a happy end 🤗

Lol so much with the Schengen Agreement! Were something suspicious on either the people or the vehicle? I remember once when I had to change flights in Switzerland, that the airport inspector asked me (in German) whether I had a laptop in my handbag and I replied in perfect south German accent Nö. So I passed through without further formalities. My spouse right behind me in the queue instead was treated like a suspect (and the rabi behind her likewise)😂

[Mazat]

2 hours ago, Phoenikakias said:

Lol so much with the Schengen Agreement! Were something suspicious on either the people or the vehicle? I remember once when I had to change flights in Switzerland, that the airport inspector asked me (in German) whether I had a laptop in my handbag and I replied in perfect south German accent Nö. So I passed through without further formalities. My spouse right behind me in the queue instead was treated like a suspect (and the rabi behind her likewise)😂

Yes, they stick to it well 🤣
Unfortunately, I already felt like a criminal 🤔.

We both have Swiss passports, but it doesn't always seem to be of any use....
In an emergency, I would probably have needed a lawyer, preferably one from Palm Talk, who, in addition to his hobby of collecting exotic items, is a lawyer.whom I would trust the most, and I mean that honestly.

[Mazat]

3 hours ago, Harry’s Palms said:

Palm seed smuggler 😂, what , no apples? Harry

Harry, that's really funny 🤣and you know what, this region on Lake Constance is called the apple region and is known for its good apple varieties and products made from them.
The police probably thought I wanted to smuggle apple seeds, grafted varieties.

[Mazat]

3 hours ago, Harry’s Palms said:

That is a deal on the Metallica! Easy peasy to grow and very nice looking , unique. They are quite happy in pots , no direct sun. I have a large one that gets morning sun and the fronds are a bit smaller and the tips burn a bit ,  but they just keep on growing happily . 
  It’s not fun being pulled over and questioned , I can’t imagine in a foreign country. I got pulled over once going to work on the midnight shift . I was cruising along on a summer night in my convertible with the top down . I had cruise control set at speed limit , music playing , and looking forward to getting work done . I asked why they pulled me over , they said I was swerving. I said no , I was not swerving . “How much have you had to drink?” I lifted my coffee cup and said that I was on my way to work , I don’t drink alcohol at all….never. They let me go. Harry

That's a good true story, Harry, from you.
It's especially tedious when it's unexpected.
Otherwise, it's like at a soccer game, where the security guards check us at the entrance, okay.
Of course, we could see from a distance that there might be a checkpoint because there were police cars there. However, we were still completely surprised. They were definitely looking for people, and I think you could tell. I've never been checked so thoroughly before.

[JohnAndSancho]

Great score, I really want to borrow Sabine when I'm plant shopping 😂 Can she help me find some cheap large nursery pots? 

 

I understand with the police. It's been a while, but I've been pulled over a few times, and speaking from personal experience they get really angry when you tell them it's not the first time you've had a gun pointed at you. And the batons they carry hurt, but they're wrapped in leather so they don't leave visible bruises. Not visible enough to photograph anyway. I'm glad both of you made it through that ordeal. 

[Mazat]

48 minutes ago, JohnAndSancho said:

Great score, I really want to borrow Sabine when I'm plant shopping 😂 Can she help me find some cheap large nursery pots? 

 

I understand with the police. It's been a while, but I've been pulled over a few times, and speaking from personal experience they get really angry when you tell them it's not the first time you've had a gun pointed at you. And the batons they carry hurt, but they're wrapped in leather so they don't leave visible bruises. Not visible enough to photograph anyway. I'm glad both of you made it through that ordeal. 

Yes, John, that would certainly be possible.

She said she just had to get through customs first 😂

It's unbelievable what can happen there.

Yesterday, I also had the feeling that when push comes to shove, their statement carries more weight...

[Hu Palmeras]

Friends, I told you in another comment that they will come for us. They will come. Whether it's NASA or the CIA, we are working with living things, and the luxury of the most exotic scares ordinary people, especially those who are unfamiliar with palm tree species. Yesterday I had my hearing for the future Botanical Garden in my city. The director of the Agricultural Service explained to me that palm tree seeds were prohibited from entering Chile. Imagine how I felt. I've now submitted the case to the Department and municipal government of my city. I hope this project comes out and sees the light of day. And remember, someone will come for us.

[JohnAndSancho]

28 minutes ago, Mazat said:

Yes, John, that would certainly be possible.

She said she just had to get through customs first 😂

It's unbelievable what can happen there.

yeah, we should probably wait a little while for that trip. 

[Phoenikakias]

@Mazat this is my own potted babies still group planted. One male among several female plants but still it does its job, albeit with poorly results. Group is about 1.5 m tall. Some of those home produced seeds have germinated in same pot naturally, so the two youngsters are 2 gen. plants.

[Mazat]

18 hours ago, Phoenikakias said:

@Mazat this is my own potted babies still group planted. One male among several female plants but still it does its job, albeit with poorly results. Group is about 1.5 m tall. Some of those home produced seeds have germinated in same pot naturally, so the two youngsters are 2 gen. plants.

Konstantinos, those are indeed wonderful, magnificent babies. Do you have them in partial shade or full shade at your place?
In any case, they are thriving beautifully at your place.
 

[Phoenikakias]

43 minutes ago, Mazat said:

Konstantinos, those are indeed wonderful, magnificent babies. Do you have them in partial shade or full shade at your place?
In any case, they are thriving beautifully at your place.
 

In the shadiest, coolest and moistest spot inside my cold frame!