The market

Yesterday we decided to take a family trip to the market and the grocery store. Jack and Cora had been to the grocery store with me before but none of them had been to the local market. The girls had been begging to go as they saw me come home with yummy fruit and talk of my adventures there.  I wasn't really sure how they would do. We thought it might be interesting for you to see a bit of what daily life is like here for the people of Tamatave and for us!

The market itself is in a big warehouse-type building with open breezeways. It was build by Ambatovy, the nickel mine in town. It is very nice and as clean as a market of this type can be. They sell a variety of yummy fruits and veggies along with pretty much anything else you would need. The prices can't be beat. It is only a short distance from the ship, too!

It turns out that the best part of the day for the kids was the journey to and from the market.

Mercy ships purchased 2 tuk tuks to transport people in and out of the port. You can buy a tuk tuk pass for $2/month but kids are free! The girls were so excited to ride on them.

Our whole family can fit!

 

 

Once at the port gate we catch a pousse-pousse to take us the rest of the way to the market. We pay 1,000 ariary (less than $0.50) for the ride.

 

S.P.A.T sign in the background is the entrance to the port gate. The girls climbed in the pousse-pousse with daddy.

 Jack and I rode together. Here's our view.

 

 

The journey is about 1 1/2 miles. I'm amazed that the drivers earn a living only charging such a small price. There are usually many of them lined up at the port gate waiting for people to catch a ride. This town has many more pousse-pousse's than cars.

 

It is frowned upon to take pictures in the market. I wish I could give you a picture of it. It is lovely, but also quite crowded and smelly (at times).  The fruit is beautiful and super cheap. The girls liked seeing it all but were just a bit overwhelmed by the entire scene.  We stayed long enough to get some bananas, avocados, green onions, limes, honey and peanuts. In total we spent 18,000 ariary (around $7).

 

Here's a picture my friend took of the meat section. We try to walk fast through this part. I think I'll stick to our ship-meat that hasn't been hanging out in the heat with flies all over it :)

 

 

After the market we went to the grocery store to pick up a few more items. It is so nice to have a few really nice grocery stores that are close. Many of the products are from South Africa so they are in English!! In other countries I was always guessing about what I was buying. Prices are really reasonable as well.  We picked up some yogurt and canned tomatoes, beans and corn for a tortilla soup I'm making.

 

The ride back was just as entertaining for the kids!

 

Though it doesn't look like it in this picture. . .Jack enjoyed himself too!

 

Cora and Daddy. . .and all our purchases.

A street corner on the way back. Everything is so green right now with all the rain we've been getting.

The view from the road to the beach. You can see the blue funnel of the ship in the distance.

 

 

We had a great morning and felt thankful for the ease of doing these things that needed much more effort in other countries we've been to. What a beautiful little city!