Finally, a border experience I can be proud of. While walking from Mexican customs over to Guatemala customs on the other side of the river... Cambiero #1: Youll need some quetzales for the customs office on the other side. Me: Yes, I know. How much would you give me for 20 dollars? Cambiero #1: [Pulls out his calculator] Lets see... 105 quetzales. Me: Uhh yeah, no thanks. [Another cambiero farther up the bridge offers to take my money. Okay, lets see what hes got.] Me: How much is $20 worth? Cambiero #2: 140 quetzales. Me: Hmm. Well...all right. [I pull out not one, but two $20 bills.] Cambiero #2: Hey amigo, let me exchange that other $20 bill for you too. Me: Not at that rate you wont. But tell you what, if you give me 150 quetzales for each 20, Ill let you exchange both of them. Also, itd be swell if you could give me a few smaller bills. Cambiero #2: Okay, I can do that. [Starts counting out only Q20 bills and then hands me the stack of what should be Q300. I count them myself to make sure.] Me: Hey pendejo, one of the Q20 bills is missing. You only gave me 14. (**No, of course I didnt actually call him pendejo. But I was thinking it.) Cambiero #2: Uhh, here, lets count them. Me and Cambiero #2, in unison: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 ... 14. Cambiero #2: Okay. [Pulls out some Q5 bills.] Heres 285, 290, 295, 300. Me: Thank you very much. Matt: 1 Guatemala: 0 Well actually, last time I checked, $20 is worth Q156. So Mr. Cambiero made about $1.75 off the transaction. Maybe well split the point. #TexasToGuate
Posted on: Thu, 17 Apr 2014 15:16:52 +0000
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