We should have been more careful.  After the extended experience of entering Berlin through the new airport, where the failure of  the automatic pastport control  wresulted in hour-long lines, we should have realized that the apparent simplicity of border control had to be a mistake.  We went through, checked a bag and carried our trollies and backpacks to the silent lounge for breakfast.  Then we wandered to the gate, only to find ourselves locked out.  

Ah, it slowly emerged, we would have to speed to the other corner of the airport to go through passport check and security again – a place almost impossible to find for lack of directions.  But once we arrived, we found hundreds of people impatiently in line.  The new automatic check-in was not working and dozens of passport clerks had been called in to ease the situation.  “We’ll miss our flights,” we pleased, but everyone else was saying the same things.  

Eventually we made it to baggage inspection.  And a few people actually let us in first because of our advanced age  

But that’s when our troubles began.  There was something in our bags that aroused enormous suspicion, and the officer in charge alerted that inspection officers who eventually alerted the entire bomb squad not to allow our bags out of the x-ray machine.   

What could it be?  Ezi was at a loss to explain.  Perhaps it was the minifan he brought, or the many chords and wires to connect the computer?  There a lipstick i bought. … We stood there answering innumerable questions as the bomb squad got organized.  It did no good to offer to blow up with our suitcases so that the hundreds of passengers waiting in line could at least pass through.  

And of course we became the object of great anger because the plane was being held up.  

The young officers who were only following orders brought us chairs, explained again and again that they had to follow the protocol, and after a few hours, were allowed to give up and let us through.

Ezi finally figured out that the source of the alarm must have been his mini pocket flashlight.

But the source was never identified.

And then we were allowed onto the plane, which of course had to wait until a new time was made available for take off.  All in all we took off after 3-4 hours, arrived at night, and have been asleep since.

I  await an apology.