Pictures

Today I went out with a friend just driving around. Our goal was to take pictures of American or foreign things around here that are just really out of context. (we did have a legitimate reason for this, not like we just thought it would be fun or something!)

To preface, there are lots of Mercedes and BMWs around but every once in a while you'll see cars that just don't fit, like audis, porsches, etc. So you have the rich and then the richer. But then there's the 'more rich' and those people own American imported cars like Explorers, Suburbans, Yukons and Hummers. I know, it seems a little backwards that these cars that are so regular and everyday to you would be a huge status symbol here but they are. Because of sanctions against this country absolutely nothing can be imported from the States. So all the American cars have to go to some third country and sit for a few months, then they can come from that country to this one. But then the govt here places a 100% tax on them. So the brand new, 2007 Yukon that I saw the other day probably cost at least 300k.

So out on our picture-taking excursion we spotted a suburban in front of an unamed embassy. This being Friday, there aren't really a whole lot of people out and we thought we could get a shot if we just slowed down. So I had the window rolled down and stuck the camera out when I noticed about 10 policeman sitting under this tree...they'd all seen me and had started to stand up. We rolled up the windows and hightailed it outta there. Not like they could chase us or anything b/c police around here don't have cars, but still. I'm sure we made their day. Just imagine what they're thinking...2 foreigners roll up in front of this embassy, slow down and start taking pictures, then head out when they notice security...sounds a little fishy if ya ask me!

The American cars are few and far between around here but every time I see one it brings a smile to my face and it just feels like a little piece of home.