Restday in Detroit

We left early by bus which runs through a tunnel under the river to Detroit-USA. As soon as the bus had crossed the tunnel we were stopped by the border control. Each vehicle got photographed from all sides, which of course is a rather slow process. But, that is nothing to what expected us next. All passengers had to leave the bus and proceed through a door to a large room, whit many counters. Each counter had computers, cameras, fingerprint readers. But, what was missing was the staff behind this marvellous toys. On friendly officer was standing there, receiving all passengers and sending them to the only counter that was working (means someone behind it) or if you had bad luck, to the next room. When it was our turn, he asked us which nationality and then send us right away to the next room. "Just a few minutes" he said and wrote our names on a list he was working on.

This few minutes became many, many minutes. Also in this second room there were at least 5 counters, but again, only two occupied. Also in this room on a row of chairs were sitting all the difficult cases like us and some of them took time! What was really unbelievable, the whole place was filled with heavily dressed officers, they all wore uniforms, guns, handcuffs, and many more things that looked rather impressiv. To our surprise they all moved in slow motion, 2 minutes work, then off to somewhere undisclosed, then back 2 minutes, then off to get somethig to drink.

Just before Frank was ready go stay in Canada, we were called and after waiting useless so long, were given green forms to fill out. Then it took some more 2 minute breaks, some questions (but not whether Frank is a  UBS banker) and eventually we were done! Welcome to the USA. But remarkably, the officers were all friendly, helpful, just slow. I wonder whether they want to fright terrorist away through the waiting lines! I have seen more efficient border crossing in African countries. What a bad way to welcome visitors, it the first impression you get of the US and a nice picture of Obama smiling at you does not help!
The remains of the day we spend in the Museum of African American History. Very touching, it is unbelievable what humans can do to each other. The museum told the story of slavery, which was only abolished in 1867! Not so long ago.The exhibition is very well made, everyone should see it! It´s run only by black people who are very proud of it. And of their black president! Talking to them, they are very sour about the Republican Party which does everything to prevent Obama from having any succees in his precidency. In the evening we went back to sleep in Canada, the border crossing took 2 minutes, like in Europe. Wohhhhhh!