We went by the Victoria Street Markets on Monday afternoon. We wandered around among people selling Indian spices like – I swear – “Mother-in-law Exterminator” a red spice that I didn’t want to even get close to trying. There were carvings and stones and jewelry and toys and computers. But the strangest store of them all was the one that was selling luggage and chickens. I never thought of combining those things! I don’t mean chicken to eat (at least anytime soon). I mean baby chickens for sale. There were people making shoes. There were people selling boxes after boxes of eggs. There were piles of bones along the street, which healers were selling for what ails you. There were packages of toilet paper (several rolls for 8 rand – about 1 dollar). There was row after row of hair salons for men – under small tarps, with two chairs and one hair stylist ready to offer his services to you. Most were un-occupied. But as you walk by row after row of people selling everything that you might imagine and want – pots and pans a whole set for only 100 rand (about 12 dollars); chess sets; biryani; flowers; dresses – whole sidewalks taken up with simple print dresses for sale.
It was my last day in spending time, officially, with the Diakonia staff. I had my picture taken with a few of them – and the family had their photo taken with Roland who has been a wonderful guide and generous friend to us. The colors of the market – the spices, the dresses, the bones, the herbs, the whole thing – is indicative of our experience of South Africa. A little scary, beautiful, curious, and always something new. What a place!
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