Trip to the gas station

According to our driver Bernardo there was no gasoline available in Luanda for the past two days due to some problems at the refinery. Therefore we stopped at the nearest gas station to get a full tank. The car's gas light was already on. It was really busy, cars waiting in several lines and zooming tiny mopeds all over the place trying to sneak by and get to the pump first. Busy! Ooh, it’s not busy at all. It can get really busy here in Luanda! I wanted to believe Bernardo but it took us at least 45 minutes to get to the bomba de gasolina. Why are all those armed soldiers here? Bernardo started to laugh, explaining that many people kept their weapons after the war and now they are used for public needs. But why are at least 8 armed man here at the gas station? Well, Bernardo laughed again. To him it was obviously a funny question that needed no answer. Finally back on the road we came across another group of heavily-armed police holding their rifles. Bernardo slowed down and opened both front windows. Here we go again!! Ooh, that’s a car stop. They are looking for stolen cars, explained Bernardo. The police need guns to maintain order. Otherwise people would have no respect for them.