nothing to do with this killing but....
I was in the bank here in the capital .. it is just a corner bank in the drug store and there is a tourist, now I mean a "tourist" dressed in shorts, scooped t-shirt- flip flops, pulling his US passport in and out of his shorts pocket coming in and out of the line of the bank and over to the serivice counter where I am waiting... "can I help you? " I ask--- " D0 I have to stand in line to get money from my credit card?" "You can use the ATM"
"No I used an ATM up North and the machine held it and so I want to have the teller do it. And I want $1,000 dollars.". (Nice and loud, he said that !)
So I translate for him to the lady at the service desk, and indeed he has to stand in line.
So then I ask if he has anyone with him. No. And then I see him taking his passport in and out of his short?s pocket. And finally I say to him
?Look. A 500 peso note is big money here. A US passport will bring someone $10,000 (I have heard it is much less but don?t want to believe it!) So please at least go buy a wallet! do you have a safe in your room? Yes.... he said
He was very sweet. He kept thanking me. But really, Really. He could not have stood out more if he had a sign painted on him. I had to explain to him. That we had these shipments arriving here every week, with these recent graduates from Attica.... experts,,,, really.... and that he should really pay a little more attention to where he was.......