The rules for anyone travelling to Qatar were as follows: NO BOOZE, NO GIRLIE MAGAZINES, NO ACROSS THE COUNTER MEDICATIONS (buy them in Doha before going out to rig) AND IF YOU ARE ON A PRESCRIPTION IF POSSIBLE HAVE IT FILLED AT A DRUGSTORE IN DOHA) These rules I repeated many times in the years that we hired for Middle East and stressed how serious it could be if you have any of these articles on your person or in your luggage.
My next trip to Doha, Qatar I was invited to stay with the Jim Shetter's. Getting ready to travel [ methodically packed my suitcases and carry-on, as I'd been doing for years. The trip started out well, the first leg of my flight was to Amsterdam where there was a couple of hour layover, As I was sitting and reading a magazine I suddenly realized that I had also mindlessly packed a bottle of Canadian rye whiskey as a gift for my hosts - you cannot imagine the instant panic that I felt when I realized what I had done and there was nothing I could do to change it, my luggage was tagged for Doha, Qatar. How could I possibly have been so foolish, now the lecture to myself started: where did I think I was going, how stupid could I be when I tell people these rules everyday and not follow them myself, and this wasn't my first trip here. Now all I could do was to board my next flight and hope for a miracle. We had a stopover in Saudi Arabia to allow passengers to either get off or on, any passengers travelling to other destinations were to remain seated. As we started to descend into Saudi airport the announcement came over the speaker to clear up and put away any drinking glasses or signs of alcohol, It was at this moment that I promised that should I make it through this without going to prison I would follow every rule that was ever to be laid out in front of me for the remainder of my life!! There was an American woman sitting beside me who was travelling back to Saudi to join her husband and I confessed to her what I had done. She had a pretty good laugh and then assured me that the worst that would happen is that immigration would confiscate the bottle. but I wasn't convinced. When we landed and started to deplane I was a wreck to say the least, it was hot, I'm all nerves and the airport is packed. I made my way to the the currency exchange, had my money converted and then moved to the next line-up to get my visitors visa. Once the visa was put into my passport I moved back in the lineup to go through immigration and then to the luggage carousels. As I approached, a young porter came up for my luggage tags and then quickly ran into the luggage area to get my bags, within minutes he returned with one, but was having trouble finding the other. By this time I am truly feeling faint, and then the porter came to me and said that the security police would like to talk to me. When I got to the counter the immigration people had my 2nd suitcase lying open. They lifted the carton of cigarettes (still smoking at the time) and asked if they were mine I said they were, they asked about a couple of other things and then the dreaded question - had I brought in a bottle of alcohol? My heart was pounding out of my chest as I whispered "yes, I did". They told me the rules, I pleaded ignorance and apologized over and over. They then told me they would confiscate the liquor and I was now free to go, after I repacked the bag. By this time I was nearly the last person coming through immigration. As soon as I walked outside I heard Jim Shetter holler "what the hell Kozack", what took so long"? Everyone had a great laugh at my expense, I didn't care I was free!!!
Things went along very well I had a great schedule of going to the office. socializing and shopping.
A few days before coming home Leslie Porterfield asked if I would like to visit the Iraqi Suq (mall) with her and of course I would.
Leslie was driving this sporty little convertible so even the drive there was fun. This Suq was something, the fragrances of all the different spices filling up your senses was amazing. they were in large bins and barrels lined up and down the aisles. there was also racks of clothing and trinkets. We were quite close to being finished when a fellow came down the aisle pushing a wheelbarrow full of a spice - it was a sight that I wanted to keep so I took his picture.....wrong thing to do. This peddler started shouting and running after us shaking his fist. Leslie and I looked at each other and started to run, it was a good thing she had a convertible, we both jumped into it, escaping as she drove us to safety. Of course once we were safe, the nervous laughter started. this was a very memorable trip to say the least, no matter how determined I was, it seemed I couldn't stay out of trouble,
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