[Dirk]

But how in Bog's name could you have bought a 16-85 without warranty in europe (where at what dealer so i k now wehre to stay away from) ?

The last 4 years i travelled with most of my gear to greece (this year it is not possible financially) , I always carry my gear( at least that that i can take with me) in a normal berghaus rucksack , the last 2 years i tokk the D70 always with me with the 18-70 dx ed mounted on the camera wrapped in tshirts , because when i go on hilliday i aslo take some clothes for 2 - 4 days with me in the rucksack incase my samsonite goes lost. never had a problem and 2 years i brought extra lenses with me too and they survived shiphol , the flight to and from greece and offcourse several trips there too

do you have a insureance ? (travel) may be it is covered there , if you lost the recepit a copy of your banking drafts showig to withdrawal of the money should work to as prove of buying someting