Zimbabwe dollars

Zimbabwe dollars
Originally uploaded by arutgers03

So yeah, Zimbabwe. Poor Zimbabwe. Well really, rich Zimbabwe (compared to its northern neighbors) going through an economic period rivaling Weimar Germany.

So listen, changing money on the street is illegal. I read some time ago that police were really cracking down on this practice, effectively stamping out this black market. BUT the reality in border tourist town Victoria Falls is totally different.

Official exchange rate Zim$29,000 = US$ 1. This is the official rate you get at the bank and the only legal rate in Zimbabwe. But we gave our money to our Zimbabwean cook/guide and he traded it (on the street) at Zim$250,000 = US$ 1. Illegal it may but if you know what you're doing a must. That is, in places that charged USD, they would require the Zim$250,000 rate if you paid in Zim$. And unless you want to pay US$10 for your soft drinks, you had better find a way to get a lot more Zim$ for your US$. Amen.

So (yes, I say "So" alot. so sue me.) the photo shows the 80+ bills we used to pay for a dinner for three. Exciting I know, carrying a money brick in your pocket to pay for one meal.