Market Day, le Jour du Marché, Asigbe

Around the world, in villages and cities, on every continent, people congregate at outdoor markets to sample, socialize, and stock up. Each market has its own flavor, its own specialty. Each offers a symphony of sounds, tastes and smells that combine into a colorful composition. Wherever you are, you can reconnect with the land and the people by spending a morning at the market.




Albertville, France
Honey made only from raspberry blossoms, cheese from cows who dine only on alpine clover in the Savoie region, old men in berets who carry on the traditions of many generations.

Tabligbo, Togo
Dried fish wrapped in cardboard, colorful fabrics, juicy fresh pineapple, voodoo dolls, pedal-powered machete sharpeners, shouts and echoes of "Yovo!"

Kampala, Uganda
Tourist trinkets-- carved animals, baskets, soapstone carvings.

Caracas, Venezuela
China town. A blend of Spanish and Chinese, but no English. Long green gourds, fresh fish slapped out on tables, chopsticks by the hundreds.

Seattle, Washington
Incense, flying fish, a wall covered with ABC gum. Face painters, antique books, market spice tea.

Albuquerque, New Mexico
Propane fires roaring across rotating wire drums filled with fresh green chilis, blackened chili skins flake to the ground leaving soft, smokey flavor-packed pods.

Nairobi, Kenya
Ramshackle kiosks, pineapple and bananas, chocolate Milo, tomato can lamps, vervet monkeys begging for scraps.

Bucharest, Romania
Pan flutes, tomatoes, porcelain tea pots. Red and white table runners, flies on butchered beef.

Maragarita Island
Rainbow painted parrots, woven grass hats, absent vendors, pouring rain.

Portland, Oregon
Headgear formed from kitchen utensils, soup stands to feed the homeless, elephant ears and pad thai, hand-turned pottery, buskers and bridges.