What is the right price?

Can you have a differentiating monopoly where depending on your wealth and your admiration of the shrine, you're priced differently.

I often wonder about this.

Can the locals, compete with the international tourism, or do they just carry on.

The Basque people are both friendly and extremely hard working. They appreciate being appreciated with smiles, kindness and cash. It's not always just cash but if the others are missing they move on happily. They can spot people they want to serve. They went to "Good, good, nah school." They blank tourists they don't like the look of. Guess what it works very well. They moved on while the toyrists moan "I was waiting ages and I shouted three times it's me next."

Those who are served feel equally vindicated. Smiling being patient and saying "Eskerrik Asko" (or perhaps read the room and say 'Gracias') will serve you well. Reading the napkins will always serve you well. The Basque people don't all speak Basque. Read the tea leaves, or the napkins. If they say Eskerrik Asko, it's not a gimmick, just Ask Eric ask him. Or as my impersonation of Bobby Bluebell goes Esk Erik Asko. It brings tears to my eyes and often to the victim.