Frank in La Manz

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Hello

Nice place! Maybe I should have stayed

I am in Laredo waiting to go across the border, don’t have insurance until Monday.

Yesterday after arriving in daylight, parked in a parking lot, I got raided, searched, extorted, threatened and everything else by two what I believe to be police cars (old ford interceptors) and six men in black uniforms with guns looking for drugs. Asked me if I had any arms, pistolas or cuchillo (knife). I point at my kitchen knife and got myself in trouble.

The end of the story.

After searching my wallet and only finding one credit card and 800 pesos, it was decided that I have to go to jail until Monday, then see a judge, the fine would be $400.00 US dollars probably, possibly MASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.

Waving the credit card at me it was suggested that I could pay the fine right now, pointing at an ATM.

I am still a free man but a little lighter.

I will go tomorrow morning and probably will not come back very soon.

Don’t spend too much time around the border.

On top of all this, I see the first rain yesterday after three months.

All else is well.

ERNST

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My message to Ernst:

Ernst, sorry to hear of your misfortunes at Laredo. It’s known for being unsafe, especially coming in from the south. I will clean up your message and post it to the Blog. Couple of details are unclear to us so I will ask you some questions.

Why were you in Laredo, we thought you were heading to the Mexican ~ Arizona crossing where all the Dentists are ?

Why were you waiting for insurance ? Insurance for what ? Laredo is not a good place to hang around waiting for anything. You should have gone into the sticker return area, returned your sticker and got across the boarder immediately.

Safe travels !

Frank

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Response from Ernst:

Hello

I am in Laredo, TX.finally.

One more extortion, they must have me seen coming.

I did not need a dentist, just was telling you about it.

I went for a cleaning here. Did not want to drive all the miles just to see the other dentist, wanted to see something new, did not find anything I really liked, plus they where calling for rain. So I decided to go to Laredo to get my teeth cleaned and spend the rest of time in the US in civilization.

My car insurance was cancelled and I had to wait until today when the office opened to reinstate it.

8 o’clock this morning 9 Canadian time I call the insurance and can’t wait to get out of here, heading to the border I look for a Pemex, one last cheap fill up. Only a mile before the border I see one, then turn left behind one other car and get waved down by a transit police man.

ONE WAY, well, traffic is still going the same way.

Same story as last time, just cheaper.

He tells me I have to go to the office in town, ticket would be $70.00US, gets supervisor, he speaks a little English, finally $40.00 will do and I can go on.

Got my gas, went to the border, 23 pesos to cross, no problem finding and handing in the sticker. A young guy looking all through the van. Really liked it. (I would not call it searching) I pay $1.50 duty for 2 bottles wine and I am in the states.

Hope my luck will change, don’t know where I am going yet.

I keep an eye on skype, maybe give you a call when you are on.

Have a nice holiday and stay away from Laredo.

ERNST

Peter/Ernst