And on the topic of countries' reputations... my godmother was stopped at Lagos in the late 70's. The immigration official took her passport, dropped it on the floor and stood on it, saying "Madam, you do not have a passport and there will be a fine".

This was brazen even by Nigerian standards, though, since it was a diplomatic passport (husband was a senior diplomat in Lagos/Abuja/wherever the embassy was in those days) and she was heavily pregnant!