There is a ship which sails from Antwerp to Africa on a regular basis, and no where else. Men on board buy televisions, cd players, all sorts of things in Antwerp ,and than exchange them for cigarettes on arrival in west Africa.
S.
Why do they not sell them?
I.T. Ah, money has no value to the locals in that way, they always trade something for another thing.
The television in Anthwerp costs 500 , but when you exchange it in Africa you get 1000 worth of cigarettes, than you get back to Antwerp where the Russain mafia is waiting for the cigarettes- and they always want more than you have managed to get..
I know a guy in Kaštela, who has built a five storey house, because he has always worked on that ship line, Antwerp-Africa..
S. So everyone on the ship does that, all the sailors?
IT. Yes. Every one on board trades.
Sometimes we give crude oil in exchange for fish..
S. What? Like real crude oil? What do you mean?
IT.
Well on the days we see the fishermen offering fresh fish on the shore, the Uncle (pet name for captain) sends me out, to pick the good fish out for the crew on board to eat, that's always my job, I pick the fish and send the fisher men a barrel of oil in exchange. It can happen when there is fresh fish, fresh papayas, bananas, fresh fruits, anything fresh to eat.
S. This is on the black market , right?
IT Indeed it is. We are still all priates aboard ships,
the only difference is that our ships do not have sails these days..
(He said as he smiled smugley and took a sip of his vine..)..
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