I myself haven’t traveled in Central America, but Wend’s publisher Ian — who has spent a fair amount of time galavanting around Nicaragua and other nearby countries — tells me that it is common custom to bribe border patrol with cigarettes and dirty magazines (and by “dirty” I don’t mean they fell on the ground). These things make border patrol agents jump for joy and in turn allow travelers to continue on their merry way. But the influx of tourists has apparently refined the tastes of border patrol agents… at least one particular one in El Salvador.
Via the Joydrive blog — documenting the car travels of a Canadian couple going from their home continent to the tip of South America — we’ve learned that at a police stop on their way into El Salvador, a cop spotted a copy of Wend lying in their car and took it as a gift for himself. From the blog post:
A relatively friendly police officer leaned in asking for our papers, he then requested that Tom open the trunk so he could have a look around. I did my part playing the bored wife in the front seat listening to the officer asking questions when Tom asked me, in a strangled voice, if I really wanted to keep the WEND magazine that we had stashed in the back. I replied that I was still reading it when the trunk slammed shut and Tom jumped in the car, revved the engine and sped off. Once we were out of sight Tom explained that the cop spotted the magazine and was curious if this was a “gift” for him– hope they enjoy their new reading material.
Got any good stories of reading Wend (or giving it to others) abroad? Send them our way!
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Great stuff. I really wish I could pull the trigger on that drive, like these 2 have. It’s been my dream for as long as I can remember. Unfortunately I have a good job in this crappy economy. I secretly hope to get fired.
Hey boss,
If you want my two cents… I’d say go for it. I know that job security is a big part of life but I reckon our dreams have to factor in too. Long live the open road!