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[miltiades]

No sooner had I crossed the road when whistles started, accompanied by shouts obviously directed at me.

Each morning I take a short stroll to the centre of town and visit a small friendly coffee bar for my morning espresso, Lavazza coffee and very welcoming first thing in the morning. As always I sit by the table closest to the windows and sip my coffee.

In Belarus there is much discipline on the roads, one never hears car horns and every thing seems to be in a some pre determined order. Pedestrians waiting at the lights to turn green and as the lights do so a descending number starting from 45 seconds begins ticking away.

I always wanted to test what my lady friend had told me in that you never cross the road even if clear of oncoming traffic, until the lights turn to green. I don't know what came over me but on returning home I approached the crossing and had clearly noticed two policemen standing by, so being my usual self and checking that the road was clear I thought lets try and see the reaction of the police.

This morning I had changed my jacket, left my phone on the charger and had left my passport in my other jacket.

I know this area quite well and can find my way back to my lady's apartment. I

I stopped having crossed the road and the two police officers approached me verbally addressing me in Russian obviously that although I did not understand I knew they were angry about something. I smiled and uttered about the only phrase I know, Dobra Utra, Good morning.

They pointed to the lights and in a serious voice started talking to me. I responded in English, smiling at them and saying sorry. Passport, one demanded.
How could I explain that my passport was at the apartment, so I took out my little note book that contained the address of the apartment and showed it to them. I understood that they were asking for my name, so I wrote it on my notebook and thought that was the end of the matter, but it was not. They insisted seeing my passport, I pointed to the address of the apartment and again in English I said Passport here !!

Obviously they knew the address and begun gesturing that I follow them, me in the middle, a policeman on either side of me, no handcuffs though!!

Within a few minutes we arrived at the apartment, they knocked at the door, mentioning her name over and over, and as my lady friend opened the door, begun a pleasant conversation with my lady who kissed them both shaking their hand. It turned out they were related to her, she invited them in and they begun in a laughing manner explaining my "crime" !!, my lady giving me a disapproving look.

They never asked to see my passport, they shook my hand and smiled as they made their way out of the apartment...

The moral of the story ...when in Rome.....

[Schnauzer]

'Double Post?'.............. 'Omen'.................... "Be Doubly Cautious!".