An addendum

I just realized after glancing at my most recent post that, although I mentioned how the buildings outside the city center become less and less colorful, I forgot to elaborate as to why this was particularly interesting.

We asked our guide what the deal was with the sudden lack of color (i.e. practically every building in the poor barrios, which stretched for miles, was concrete grey). He told us that those who paint their houses have at least enough dough to pay the costs of the housing inspection, which finalizes the property as completed and gives them the go-ahead to paint away. More interesting, however, is that as soon as they paint their house, business, etc., they have to start paying taxes on the property. Hence: no cash, don't wanna pay rent, chill with a grey house.

Que chido, no?