We were sitting there in that scary immigration office at the border of Venezuela and Colombia! Finally, after many hours of interrogation, we convinced them that
we were just having fun cruising around the world.
Using all my charm (and showing them my phone book), I persuaded them that I only needed to call to the Herrera or the Boulton families, or to my political friend Rafael with a penthouse in Maracaibo. Having so many influential friends, including my brother Anatoly who levies on Canaima, I really did not know who to call! it this horrible moments so I called on Jack’ my x, , and had Jack call other friends I had introduced him too, at the Onda Nueva International Music Festival.
Finally, after all the information I gave them , they realized that I was a Venezuelan citizen and resident and preity known celebrity their from all he shows etc., and that my friend with me just my lover, a harmless young American.
At that time, money was pouring from the U.S. to Venezuela, through the companies that Marcos Pérez Jiménez (General ) had set up in deals many years before, and which were still in business. So in other words we needed a friend to come driving to the border to pick us up and vouch that I was who I said I was, and that Tad was ok.
Boy oh boy, I was not a happy customer while we were in that hole full of rats in this unbearable heat! Being all my youth have my away, So I was drinking whatever I could find there! I found a little bodega, a hole with a piece of wood or old door for a counter, some fruits and veggies and some rum. And there, in this dusty place, stood one single bottle of “El Cacique King of Venezuela” rum, which I spotted immediately, remembering my wild social life in Caracas where that expensive rum flowed like water at the tables of the nuevo rich people. But it cost more than we wanted to pay, we had no money to spare because hadn’t achieved our destiny, not yet!
So I found a very inexpensive rum and Tad bought a bottle of wine to give to our friends when they arrived, as a gift. Well, I was oblivious by the time they arrived, while all the kissing hugging and introducing went on. I just said, “:Lets get out of here, we’ll talk in the van on our way to Maracaibo” So it was goodbye, adios and gracias, lets go. Finally we were on the other side of the border, so far so good. I was so happy and drunk I started singing!
Anyway, Rafael had come with his girlfriend and another lady that seemed to be an official, maybe an immigration secretary, and she was the one that signed for us and did all the paperwork at the border, before we could cruise on down the road.
I slept– thru the ride too Maracaibo, well, to be honest I passed out, and woke up when I heard Tad say ” did we arrived is this your home?” “Yes!”“three voice sounded off.
I can tell you that the heat of Maracaibo is uniquely hot ! I had been there many times with William, and then with Tony Aguilar on a tour with him singing and me promoting the Kent cigarettes that paid for the tour. We spent a few crazy days there at this condo of Rafael. We had fun; they were smoking marijuana everywhere we went, and I was snorting cocaine and drinking as much as I could. I am not so proud of the time we spent there, I was promiscuous and it left a bad taste in my mouth.
The time came to say goodbye and so we went off to the aeropuerto of Maracaibo. When we arrived there, we still had a few minutes to spare before boarding;Tad had a joint of marijuana he wanted to smoke before going on the plane. So we went out and sat in a semi-private area outside; I had been collecting some pot seeds as a hobby, and putting them in a silver little box that William gave me for cocaine. I was going to plant them somewhere? Sounds good: why not on the island, or better yet! at my home in Los Angeles in my own garden !
Then we heard the flight being announced , so Tad quickly put out the roach. Not wanting to waste it, I told him not to throw it away and put it, at was just barely a third of a joint, in my safari pants which had many pockets, (in a different pocket from my little silver box).
Walking to our line to board the flight, Tad went in front and passed me. It was my turn, and as I stepped up, this fantastic officer female, with a lesbian smile that seemed much too nice to me, started frisking me– she was touching me a little more than necessary ,I thought to myself! Then, when she touched the pocket with the little box ,it must have
been her curiosity, she stopped and touched it again almost like grabbing my calf muscle! I remembered what was in it, and blurted out, “Oh shit!”
Love your memoirs…your blog. Always waiting for the next. Thanks you for sharing and waiting for the next. 🙂