Thank you for the great comment and addition to this article. Looking forward to sharing part two with you. It's incredible just how crossing a border can change the price of an item by so much, and instantly put you into one financial class or another. For those "lamenting the low wages in "third-world" countries" No where is perfect, and every country has it's pros and cons.

You're 5 cent pastries remind me of so many things I've come across over the years. How about 12 cent fresh Colombian espresso in Colombia! That was a bargain! I certainly know what you mean and can relate. I'm very happy to learn about another fellow traveler here on Steemit! Have a great day! -Dan