borderline

So how was the border?

We arrived on the Peruvian side, stood in line, relinquished Peruvian visas. Walked across into Bolivia.

It was so easy. Another long line where I filled out paperwork, paid money, submitted photo I had taken just in case, showed my ticket out and gave a copy of my passport. There you have it, a few simple steps to being a happy US citizen in Bolivia!!!

Who could know that the return trip would prove more difficult.

Sitting contentedly on my direct bus back to Cusco we stopped for a routine check. Show the nice military man your passport and visa please. Not a problem. Back on the bus.

Exit bus to exit Bolivia. Fairly gruff but a quick process. I ask where I go next and get told "Peru". Not really helpful. Asking a second person yeilded the same answer. Mystified one of our party asked the obvious. where is Peru?I'm sure this is part of immigration's entertainment because they laughed and pointed across a bridge.

I walked across the bridge and it was not obvious where to go. I ask a police officer who takes me, not gently, by my elbow and steers me into the building on my left. It says national police, not immigration.

I am suddenly inside a movie. Concrete room, shuttered window, bare light bulb, one rickety table and two unsmiling officers.

"Tiene drogas?"

Do I have drugs. No, of course not.

They dump my handbag and my daypack out to search my belongings, repeatedly asking about drugs. How did I fall into this reality?

They look at my wallet. Since my wallet was stolen and I left my travel towell somewhere I have been using the mesh towell bag as my wallet. It has two pockets and it closes with a zipper. It's not ideal but it works and I have a wallet at home.

They wave the "wallet" in front of my face yelling because my money is disorganized. I explain slowly in my wonderful Spanish that my wallet was stolen and now this is all I have.

"Why is your money disorganized? Are you on drugs?"

No. All my money for a current country goes in one pocket. The back pocket is a mish mash of currencies.

"then where are your bolivianos?"

Because I am leaving Bolivia, I traded them for soles at the bus station this morning.

"entonces, no drogas?"

No.

"pass"

I start to organize my things.

"hurry! Get out!"

I shove things in my bag and leave, seeing two other girls waiting to go in. I cannot say anything as I am being escorted out.

Into immigration and three minutes later on the bus.

Now as I write this a woman next to me in the airport asks if they did not bring in women police for the search? I think the whole point was pulling in women just to terrorize. Good times for all in the border towns.