Travels with Checkpoints

"The captain had lost control of his spittle, which landed on my face as he spoke. He was also dribbling a bit. Plainclothes-man was trying to shout over the captain while the younger policeman just sat there smiling drunkenly, sporadically pointing at his lapel and saying 'Politsia'. I was mostly silent now as opening my mouth would have resulted in a stream of saliva down my throat, and I didn't feel our friendship had reached that level yet."

Travelling to any country involves some contac...