Experiencing the Merkato

We had been looking for traditional dresses for Vivi for a couple of weeks without success. In the garment district of Addis the vendors wanted to charge triple the price, "white tax", as Baby calls it. So we decided we must got to the Merkato to pick out the fabric, and then have them handmade by Genat's (Baby's mom) friend and tailor.

The Merkato is not only the biggest outdoor market in Africa, but also listed in every guidebook as one of those "if you go prepared to be pick-pocketed" kind of places. It was a bit intimidating to think about but we were up for the adventure. It has also been said, and basically proven, that you can find anything you need at this market...from produce and spices to furniture and fixtures to car parts to livestock to clothing, and everything in between.

The market itself is very large, covering several square miles. There were roads large enough for two way traffic, alleys and some roads that could barely fit a car.

It was an indescribable experience..the people, the smells, the feeling of just walking through this busy market. Looking back, the anxiety was unfounded as long as you were aware of your surroundings and had a good guide. So much so that we went another day for further shopping.

“If you wait to do everything until you're sure it's right, you'll probably never do much of anything.”

 Win Borden