Stock Market

We walked through the dusty streets of Dar talking and joking with SImon on the way to the market. I really had no expectations but I had been to markets in Prague and Budapest and the array of colors of the fresh and dried fruit, the spices, and the intricate detailing of how the pastries were set out was an actual work of detailed artistry. I took many pictures in those markets of fruits I had never seen, spices I would not know what to do with and cheeses of all shapes.

The experience at the market was somewhat different. I wish I could have taken pictures but there is a sincere feeling of shame for me knowing that I have struggled to save enough to make it here when what I have is more than some people here can even dream of- taking photographs would be an insult and to show that I can even afford a camera would embarrass me and welcome danger. So, I will try to paint you the picture with words...

Walking up to the market you can see just tons of people standing and sitting around it- nothing to do, nowhere to go and no money to buy what's being sold- but everyone looks lively and interested. We walk in and on the first floor there are bicycles and old electronics circa 1990, like the pink ghetto-blaster radio my sister used to put in the basket on the front of my strawberry shortcake bike when we would ride around the block, playing Paula Abdul mixed tapes:) There are all sorts of housewares items, old fashioned foot-pedal sewing machines, hoses, oil funnels, just a lotof miscellaneous stuff. The second floor was full of agricultural tools- chemicals, seeds, sowing materials, scithes, wheels, pesticide sprayers and different types of those items. No one really haggled us in there too badly and it was quite a nice walk through to learn about all the different things used here.

Right down the street was the food market and that's where it got interesting...and pretty shocking. I had not yet expereinced culture shock until we walked through the food market.

Huge burlap sacks were filled with rotting sardines and flies buzzed incessantly around them. Next to that was the millet in burlap sacks and rice and dried foods, all heaping over the folded down sacks. It was a sea of food and edible items...After the dried goods was the semi- dried fruit that did not look like it had been dehydrated- it looked as though it was rotting... Then was the fresh foods which looked quite appetizing...not the perfect shiny version of the genetically enhanced and chemically sprayed American fruits and vegetables, more organic and raw- like real food. The carrots were delightfully orange and the tomatoes were ripe and fresh. Women were snapping open pea pods to display and men were anxiously looking for buyers- it was obvious how hard these people had worked to grow these foods- relying on their sell for their income...

i'm running out of time and must finish for now but i will pick up where i left othe most interesting part is to follow...