Quote:
Originally Posted by navalarchitect
...a couple of places in South and Central America where locals with a rope across the road and a machete casually to hand ask for a "road repair" fee. These you have to deal with on a case by case basis trying to pay roughly what the locals pay (for there are never enough tourists for this to be just applied to them). But I also add at some of these local stops I was also waved through with no payment required because I was a tourist.
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I've paid the road work folks in South/Central America, especially if they have done work. I consider it entrepreneurship, a good characteristic that deserves a reward. There is no cash work in many rural areas and this is one opportunity taken with no guarantees of a financial reward. Same with SOME of the locally organized self defense groups who are keeping the drug groups out and making it safe for locals and tourists. They have no other funding sources other than volunteer contributions from local travelers and from the occasional traveler like us who have comparatively way more disposable income. Sharing the wealth with the right folks creates good will to travelers.
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