I knew I was in for a run around after my arrival in this very beautiful and vibrant city = but not this badly! I tried to keep a cool head as I cruised from airport to cargo to government office to freight company dishing out cash at evry turn= all with a willing but very reckless taxi driver.
Fimally with my bag in sight I was instructed to return to the very first office
as I had to pay the freight= again! This despite me providing written proof of payment in SA/
No logic prevailed and I also grew stubborn and even tried the tearful option. No luck/
Phone CapeTown = they said. I refused as I had the printout of my electronic payment/
Suddenly = OK pay storage only/ What I cried = bag has only been here less than 24 hours/
You MUST pay for 2 days = Lira 99
Please make it one
OK = Lira 98
I knew I was beaten and I left with a dry mouth an tachycardia after forking out the required bribe/
So I am smiling again and tomorrowthe sun will be shining and I will go on a ferry across the Bosphorus and know that I am a little more travel wise and lucky to be seeing all this/
Stay well and thanks to all those who have sent words of encouragement
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3 comments:
Yeah, Joano, that's the universal grease that makes the cogs of the East (and Africa) go round, in western legal terms known as extortion. No getting away from it, bet you'll see more. Makes you the donder in, but there you are. Have a raki under the old Galata Bridge (hoping it still exists), that will smoothe the wrinkles on your liver and moisten the dry whistle. Hope you'll find time to have a gander at the Topkapi.
Cheeri-ho
those bloody sharks!
DR J! I saw your photo in the Tour d'Afrique newsletter. That's you standing at the end with the big smile and long hair. Bad news. The ain't no way you are going to make it to Beijing without a haircut this time. Clearly you ran out of time in Knysna for a coiffure. I look forward to the photo of you with the Uzbeki haircut. It can't be as bad at the one I got in Ethiopia.
Cheers. Lyle.
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