Dalama Adventures Tale of two corporate types ditching their jobs and traveling the world for 14 months... check out all photos, blogs & interesting tid bits at http://www.dalama.net

The opportunities for importing Peruvian handicraft abounds here. While good, unique product here is not cheap, sourcing from local villages is a must. We perused the stalls and stores, snapping up a few samples and taking photos of really neat handicrafts made by women villagers. As in other developing countries we've visited, entrepreneurialism runs deep here. I met a talented woman who designs beautiful leather purses and other leather accessories, keen to expand her market abroad. We spoke with other ladies who were weaving beautiful table runners, rugs, wall tapestries, place mats with all the beautiful indigenous, ethnic designs that we really love. Too bad we sold all our furniture and don't have anything specific to match these textiles with... ah... the possibilities abound. Beautiful alpaca sweaters, jackets, scarves, gloves and hats... and the Inca jewelry. It's a darn good thing I don't have an income or I'd be snapping this stuff up. Another art gallery had beautiful wooden picture boxes in all sized hanging on the walls, loaded with miniature carvings, painted beautifully inside, depicting Inca stories, folklore, festival and daily life.

I can definitely see coming back on a buying mission into the hill communities and pueblos here in the Andes to stock up my dream import/export shop. The chance to help these talented and hard working women expand their market, increase their profits, and educate their children is a really strong pull.