The Schegen Agreement (Part 3)
Now it is time to really leave the EU and Spain, the Canaries being part of both. Gary and I set off to clear out around the waterfront. We left Glen and Liz doing the final provisioning of perishables. We filled in the required form, got it stamped and then " please....your passports" Oh dear!!!!!Shock horror!!!!!the Schengen Agreement was mentioned. Much conversation in Spanish with us and other staff and finally an interpreter arrived to help out. We explained our experience in Tarifa and that we wouldn't be coming back into the area. Still lots of talking among themselves. Finally the interpreter ( a funny guy with a great sense of humour) says to us " You have never been ashore since you left Greece" Yes we say. "No you haven't been ashore since you left Greece. You phoned up for your beers to be delivered to your boat...Understand? you have never left the boat and you definately didn't go to Tarifa. In fact we have never seen you....now do you understand? This stamped form will clear you into the Cape Verdes but there will be no stamp in the passports.....you know....you have never been here, okay? You have only one problem......if and when you want to return to the EU you will have to deal with your embassy for visas as your present passports have you arriving in the EU but never leaving. So now you may leave the place you have never been." Relieved we shook hands with the officer and the interpreter and we left wishing them "Feliz Navidad" (Merry Christmas).
Three times lucky!!!! This explanation is not meant as advice to do as we did but just an insight into the experiences of visiting numerous countries and their customs and requirements.
Cape Verdes, here we come