InsideOut Travel—Shopping for Bamba

DESTINATION: BLACK MARKET

by Amy Loftsgordon

Part of the fun of traveling in third world countries is purchasing bootleg items, such as a copy of a movie that is still in theaters or a $3 USD "designer" shirt.

By the way, nothing in this article should be construed as binding legal advice. If you have questions about the legality of contraband items, please consult an attorney.

While counterfeit items can be found in cities such as New York or Paris, it seems that the citizens of many third-world countries consider it their right, almost their duty, to make money by providing ultra low-cost contraband to the public—and in the process, deprive conglomerate corporations of a substantial profit.

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	DESTINATION: BLACK MARKET
	Shopping for Peruvian Bamba
	by Amy Loftsgordon Part of the fun of traveling in third world countries is purchasing bootleg items, such as a copy of a movie that is still in theaters or a $3 USD "designer" shirt. By the way, nothing in this article should be construed as binding legal advice. If you have questions about the legality of contraband items, please consult an attorney. While counterfeit items can be found in cities such as New York or Paris, it seems that the citizens of many third-world countries consider it their right, almost their duty, to make money by providing ultra low-cost contraband to the public—and in the process, deprive conglomerate corporations of a substantial profit.				There are hundreds of black markets throughout the world in places such as Bangkok, Beijing, Manila and Managua, though my favorites are the many black markets that can be found in Lima, Peru. Many of the travelers who pass through Peru spend little time in the capital Lima or bypass it altogether in favor of heading straight to the more tourist-friendly destinations such as Cuzco and Machu Picchu. However, the adventurous traveler will find that Lima, a city of 8 million people, can be a bucket o’ fun due to the fact that street markets sell everything from imitation Jack Daniels whiskey to knock-off Nike sweatshirts. “No one wants to spend any time in a Latin American prison. Trust me, I know.” In Lima, one of the best marketplaces (and one of my favorite places to visit) is Polvos Azules. Whenever I have mentioned this to a Peruvian, they have frequently said something to the effect of “Es muy peligroso!” or “It’s very dangerous!” more >> << home << discuss article >>
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