I always suspect that when they scan our passports, a screen comes up that says, "These are just boring old American tourists. Let them through."

They never ask us anything. Even when we went in and out of Tel Aviv (from and to Germany) they expressed no particular interest in us or our travels. On the way in, nothing. On the way out, "Q: Why were you in Isreal? A: To attend a party. Q: Do you speak any Hebrew? A: Shalom." Then we were waved through. Of course, if we had told them that we had come to attend Dovster's party, they may have detained us for days on end.

There have been a couple of times when the Canadian Customs agents at the cruise terminals in YVR have commented on how many stamps we have, although we are mere pikers compared to many FlyerTalk road warriors.

Since we really are just boring old American tourists, I have to assume that the system is working.