We get into a taxi in La Paz which is parked just in front of our hotel. 'To the Killi Killi mirador please', we say to the driver who slowly drives off after we agreed on the price. A policeman approaches from the left and speaks to the driver. We see how the driver picks a couple of coins and hands them to the policeman. All this happens while the car is still moving, the policeman walking alongside. They continue arguing. It seems that this is about a parking issue, but we are not sure.
The policeman walks with the car for maybe 50 to 100 metres. Then, as the traffic has cleared up a little, the driver accelerates. We hear the fist of the policeman banging against the rear window of the taxi. Looking backwards we see the policeman left behind in the middle of the street. It seems that we are off to our destination now.
After a hundred metres traffic gets to a halt again. A moment later the front right door of the taxi is opened and the same policeman gets into the car. He demands to see the driving license of the driver who is still reluctant to provide it. Despite the argument between the two we continue to drive towards our destination. We are stunned and worried at the same time about the situation.
A few blocks down the road the policeman asks the driver to stop and gets out of the car. Only minutes later we arrive on top of Killi Killi hill. We pay the agreed tariff and all is fine.
Given all the warnings in our travel guide about fake policeman and express kidnappings involving policeman and taxi drivers this was not the most relaxed taxi ride we have had. But I thought, they would not fake the bribe.
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