crossing borders

[punkynsquirt@cs.com]

Harry: I have been in touch with every consulate for all 23 of the countries (besides USA) I will be going to and was assured that "Punky" would be allowed as long as he has an International Health Certificate with a veterinarian certifying "Punky" has the required shots and it has to be USDA endorsed as well. Then I will have to go to the consulate of each country before I enter for a paper from them. I'll need papers for myself and the bike as well. I expect some border guards will cause problems no matter how well I will have prepared. The mordida (bribe) is common practice in many Latin American countries. Sometimes officials manufacture problems in order to collect $$. I am generally against this payment, however I am telling myself that sometimes it is a lot easier to just pay it as long as it isn't too much -- and of course they know that. I lived in Mexico during most of the seventies so I have some experience with this sort of thing as well as the manana crap. The dictionary says manana means tomorrow, but in practical use it means some indefinite time in the future. If a business person or mechanic tells you something is going to be ready manana -- don't be surprised if it takes a week or longer. At least I will not be on a strict time schedule and the bank account is automatically replenished every month. If I want or have to stay somewhere for a month it will be no problem. Funds can be easily accessed via ATMs almost everywhere. Wish me luck. My lady friend doesn't think I'll make it out of Florida. Thanks for your reply, Lew Punky n Lew's Americas Motopaseo departing 5/1-6/1, 2001 Key West - Newfoundland - Northwest Territories - Point Barrow, Alaska - Ushuaia, Argentina and all of Latin America