We just pulled off the Péage from Spain near Bayonne, driving along narrow hilly roads slightly lost, and got pulled in to a Police check point. The trainee officer went to the passenger side of the van, then sheepishly realized that there was no steering wheel there, so came around to my side. He asked if I spoke French, and looked totally lost when I said no. So the senior officer had to take over, and asked for my driver's licence. Slight panic on my side, because I was unsure if we had the green 2nd part with us, or even if they were still issued. He studied it seriously for a while then sternly gave it back. There was a heavily armed officer holding an automatic behind him.
"He's got a gun!" I pointed, wide eyed. "Yes", he said. Ahh, I said. "Welcome to France".
"He's got a gun!" I pointed, wide eyed. "Yes", he said. Ahh, I said. "Welcome to France".