Gringitos. una propina . . .

We were sitting on the Santo Tomas bridge eating lunch when she approached smiling and telling us not to fall into the river. ¨Gringitos,¨ she said, ¨una propina, por favor.¨ I gave her two soles for a photo in exchange. She was more than happy to have her photo taken then walked off.

Peru has no social security, her husband was probably long gone and children moved away to a place with more opportunity, if they were living. Hard to say no.