tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512448163402185409.post3779189871406434719..comments2024-03-24T16:22:24.604-08:00Comments on Richard's Page: MerkatoRichardMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04773834892715980735noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512448163402185409.post-33061760010608783132012-03-03T16:42:02.184-09:002012-03-03T16:42:02.184-09:00The market place wasn't noisy but there was a ...The market place wasn't noisy but there was a constant sound of talking, kids and vehicles. A very busy place and everyone trying to sell you something. Kids seemed to follow us around and some try out their English on us. A few ask for money but it wasn't like we were being constantly asked.RichardMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04773834892715980735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512448163402185409.post-2400722314288932642012-03-03T10:17:04.965-09:002012-03-03T10:17:04.965-09:00I can almost hear the buzz at the market place. Su...I can almost hear the buzz at the market place. Such a different pace and way of life than we have here. The treadle sewing machine speaks volumes.VStarLadyhttp://ridingonavstar.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512448163402185409.post-72649020106283500312012-03-02T08:12:50.234-09:002012-03-02T08:12:50.234-09:00Thirty years ago, while shopping for a sewing mach...Thirty years ago, while shopping for a sewing machine, I ran into some brand new treadle machines for sale. I think that they were made in Brazil using the original Singer tooling. They worked great but weren't very portable.RichardMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04773834892715980735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512448163402185409.post-31132991839642170152012-03-02T08:09:07.637-09:002012-03-02T08:09:07.637-09:00I'm not really sure of the spelling either. I ...I'm not really sure of the spelling either. I saw it spelled this way at least once. Amharic uses a different alphabet so any spelling using the roman or latin alphabet is an approximation.RichardMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04773834892715980735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512448163402185409.post-2215454322265485532012-03-02T08:05:06.742-09:002012-03-02T08:05:06.742-09:00I don't like crowds either but you just adapt....I don't like crowds either but you just adapt. The traffic would take some getting used to though.RichardMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04773834892715980735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512448163402185409.post-68749822232069552452012-03-01T23:01:17.580-09:002012-03-01T23:01:17.580-09:00My grandmother used to sew on a treadle machine. I...My grandmother used to sew on a treadle machine. I'm pretty sure my mom still has it. (She has a serious collection of antiques). That is cool to see them still in use. <br /><br />The open air market photos are fantastic. Really shows the community. Funny about the coffee beans...who'da thunk?Bluekathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13485258388887249275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512448163402185409.post-73264152680732224512012-03-01T19:58:11.286-09:002012-03-01T19:58:11.286-09:00Interesting post Richard!
Merkato, was the countr...Interesting post Richard!<br /><br />Merkato, was the country a colony of perhaps a European power at one time? I ask because Merkato is close to Mercado, which is Spanish for market as you probably know....seemed close enough.<br /><br />Chewing on sugar cane, I just to do that as a kid growing up in Honduras, that was a great sweet snack. Thanks for reminding me of that.<br /><br />dom<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://redlegsrides.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Redleg's Rides</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.examiner.com/x-14097-Colorado-Motorcycle-Travel-Examiner" rel="nofollow">Colorado Motorcycle Travel Examiner</a>redlegsrideshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10927757855921321097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512448163402185409.post-76031347812986435842012-03-01T12:28:10.542-09:002012-03-01T12:28:10.542-09:00We take so many things for granted in North Americ...We take so many things for granted in North America. I am not sure I could deal with the crowding, I tend to like my space, I think this comes from being a rider. It must have been so interesting seeing a different culture and how people live everyday.Dar https://www.blogger.com/profile/14690180541358767168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512448163402185409.post-27838967286362261132012-03-01T09:39:35.715-09:002012-03-01T09:39:35.715-09:00As far as money, we were told to use those travel ...As far as money, we were told to use those travel pouches commonly sold to hold your passport. All I brought was one credit card to use in the airports enroute, my passport, health card, and a modest amount of cash which we could exchange at the bank as needed. In really crowded areas such as the Merkato, we were told that pick pockets may be a problem. I didn't carry the DSLR on the days we went to the market. All of these pictures are iPhone snapshots.RichardMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04773834892715980735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512448163402185409.post-1250068732852266212012-03-01T09:33:37.471-09:002012-03-01T09:33:37.471-09:00It was pretty warm. In the middle of the day, it w...It was pretty warm. In the middle of the day, it was regularly 32°C (90°F). No one wore shorts except some of the tourists at the fancy hotels. Most men wore slacks and long sleeve shirts unless they were doing construction work and wore t-shirts and most of the women wore long skirts. We knew this ahead of time and dressed to match the culture. Jeans aren't common as they are expensive.<br /><br />There is a thriving tourism industry and we saw a number of other tourists there including a number from the U.S. and Canada.RichardMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04773834892715980735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512448163402185409.post-26481714034415541432012-03-01T09:21:46.068-09:002012-03-01T09:21:46.068-09:00The mini-bus was pretty interesting. An extra row ...The mini-bus was pretty interesting. An extra row of seats is usually squeezed in as well as all of the other customizations such that, including the driver, the mini-bus holds 12 passengers. All of them are diesel and have column shifted manual transmissions. And most have surprisingly little body damage. I'm glad someone else was driving.RichardMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04773834892715980735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512448163402185409.post-5093135175546302862012-03-01T07:30:26.455-09:002012-03-01T07:30:26.455-09:00Richard:
how hot was it there ? I notice everyon...<b>Richard:</b><br /><br />how hot was it there ? I notice everyone covered up, mostly heavier weight shirts. seeing that you only use cash, are their pick-pockets, or did you feel safe with your money ? How about photos ? do you have to sneak them or can you obviously click away, I'd imagine they don't get much tourism here. are there many other "travellers" here, other than yourselves ? <br /><br />bob<br /><a href="http://www.wetcoastscootin.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Riding the Wet Coast</a>Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05258612401956399482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512448163402185409.post-16607053191384030262012-03-01T05:35:23.602-09:002012-03-01T05:35:23.602-09:00The open air market looks really neat. I could se...The open air market looks really neat. I could see how the spices might get to you after a while. Being that fresh the smell would have been incredible.<br /><br />I don't think I'd care for the traffic. It doesn't look fun to drive in at all. Interesting fuzzy dash in the mini bus you were in. ;-)Trobairitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03453398807198746434noreply@blogger.com