Zollamt and the US fortress

When I was last in the US, I mailed a box of my books to my Hamburg address. This was in the middle of July, I think. I sent them by the slow boat, but I didn't expect it to take almost 3 months! Well, evidently, my books have been on German soil for some time, because the authorities were (somehow) convinced that this was my sneaky way of importing valuable English books to be sold on the black market here for great profit. Or something. I duly received a note from the Zollamt (customs office), to present myself to them with every form of identification that I possess. Plus 2 copies of a detailed Rechnung in der deutsche Sprache (receipt in German) - which, of course, I didn't have, because I didn't buy the things in the first place! Ok, I get there, and they summon me sternly to the desk, and dump my now very beat up box of books on the counter. I was ordered to open said box, so that they could inspect the contents. I did, and once they saw the dilapidated collection of old Agatha Christie novels, etc., they promptly said, basically, take it and go! Of course, the box was way to heavy for me, so I had to call a taxi to get me and the books home.

My next travail will be going to the US consulate in Hamburg to get additional pages added to my passport. This in itself should be painless. But how do I get into the building?? You see, like every American consulate and embassy, the one in Hamburg is surrounded by concrete barricades and very grumpy guards with Uzis. I've been past the consulate many times, but I have never once seen anything resembling an official entrance. So I'm imagining myself surreptitiously circling the place, trying to find said entrance. And also imagining getting shot for my pains.

Just found out that a good friend of mine in Berlin has got the possibility of a job in London (she's British). I'm sad that she's leaving Germany, but now I have someone to visit for shopping trips to my favorite city!! I'm trying my best not to be jealous. One of my dreams is to live in the UK some day - in a cute 19th century cottage that I can't possibly afford at the moment.

Oh, and we have a Kanzlerin!!!! Way ta go, Angie!