Page 56 - Across the Andes: Chile’s Atacama Desert & Argentina’s Northwest

accessories. Top-quality jewelry is also sold, with the best buys being items made with Inca
Rose or rhodochrosite. Argentina is one of the few places in the world where this is found and
T_ T^ `^PO TY PaP]d_STYR Q]ZX UPbPW]d _Z NL]aPO ʭR`]P^

4Y _SP X`NS ^XLWWP] LYO XZ]P ]PXZ_P NT_d ZQ @^S`LTL _SP]P T^ PcNPWWPY_ ^Z`aPYT] ^SZ[[TYRɨ
dZ` bTWW ʭYO PaP]d_STYR Q]ZX ? ^ST]_^ _Z WPL_SP] RZZO^ _Z OTaTYP NSZNZWL_P^ LYO PaPY L WZNLW
craft market.
Bargaining: ,]RPY_TYL OZP^ YZ_ SLaP L ML]RLTYTYR N`W_`]P& []TNP^ TY ^SZ[^ L]P ʭcPO ?SP ZYWd
place you may be able to bargain is in the open-air markets. If you try to bargain at a market,
VPP[ TY XTYO _SL_ TQ dZ` XLVP LY ZʬP] dZ` ^SZ`WO MP []P[L]PO _Z M`d L_ _SL_ []TNP -]TYR L
mix of small bills so that you can pay in exact change.

Uruguay
In Uruguay, look for an abundance of well-made and inexpensive leather products. You’ll
ʭYO MPW_^ bLWWP_^ MLR^ LYO ^SZP^ TY XLYd XL]VP_^ :_SP] [Z[`WL] T_PX^ TY bZZWPY []ZO`N_^
seashells, and high-quality wood items, such as cutting boards or sculptures. Don’t forget to
look for dulce de leche or LWQLUZ]P^ L ^XLWW NLVP _d[TNLWWd _SP ^TeP ZQ L NZZVTP _SL_ T^ ʭWWPO
with dulce de leche and covered in chocolate, coconut, or powdered sugar.

Bargaining: @]`R`Ld OZP^ YZ_ SLaP L ML]RLTYTYR N`W_`]P& []TNP^ TY ^SZ[^ L]P ʭcPO ?SP ZYWd
place you may be able to bargain is in the open-air markets. If you try to bargain at a market,
VPP[ TY XTYO _SL_ TQ dZ` XLVP LY ZʬP] dZ` ^SZ`WO MP []P[L]PO _Z M`d L_ _SL_ []TNP -]TYR L
mix of small bills so that you can pay in exact change.

U.S. Customs Regulations & Shipping Charges

For all things related to U.S. Customs, the ultimate authority is the U.S. Bureau of Customs &
Border Protection. Their website, www.cbp.gov has the answers to the most frequently asked
questions. Or you can call them at 1-877-227-5511.

The top three points to know are:

• At time of writing, your personal duty-free allowance is $800 for items brought with
you. Items totaling more than $800 are subject to duty fees.

• Items shipped home are always subject to duty when received in the U.S. Even when
_SP ^SZ[ SL^ ZʬP]PO _Z TYNW`OP ^ST[[TYR LYO O`_TP^ TY _SP []TNP _ST^ _d[TNLWWd XPLY^
^ST[[TYR _Z _SP YPL]P^_ N`^_ZX^ QLNTWT_d LYO [LdXPY_ ZQ _SP Pc[Z]_ O`_TP^ɨYZ_ OZZ] _Z
door shipping or payment of the import duties. All additional duties or shipping charges
would be your responsibility. Unless an item is small enough to send by parcel service
(like FedEx), chances are you will need to arrange shipping or pick-up once the item is in
the U.S. and will need to pay customs duties.

• It is illegal to import products made from endangered animal species. U.S. Customs &
Border Protection will seize these items, as well as most furs, coral, tortoise shell, reptile
skins, feathers, plants, and items made from animal skins.

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