The 1st roadside purchase


My friend, Fiona,  asked me the other day: "Is there anything you are missing or wish you'd packed now that you're on the road?", to which I replied: "No, if anything, we have packed too much". On further reflection, Fee, I would like to answer: VEGETABLES. I can't even remember when we last ate them. Probably olives on our pizza. I knew that vege's would be a challenge in Africa but didn't realise they'd be almost non-existent. Apparently it is too hot to grow anything and fresh produce will start coming through in April. As we move further north and the altitude increases, the temperatures have dropped so we have seen cabbages & pumpkins on the roadside. I have never been so excited to see a vegetable! A pumpkin was our 1st roadside purchase. Outside each home, placed on the roadside, you can find a bowl of whatever they have on offer. We paid 20MT (R4.30) each for the pumpkin and a cabbage. 70MT (R15) for 2 large avo's & 4 x mealies. Although I'm not so sure that the cabbage is a great investment as we have a few long days of travel once we are in Tanzania (read: it might overwhelm the digestive system).

Comments

  1. Ed and Kay _ Outback 2017March 31, 2021 at 5:55 PM

    Funny how one has a mental image of how 'deepest darkest Africa' should look. You have posted a few photos where the green grass behind you could be anywhere in the western world. Not so the roads though!😂🤭😳. Those were some awesome (read awful) videos you posted. Scary stuff. Are those regarded as main roads or secondary roads? Good luck with the cabbage though. Not sure about pristine amenities for toilet stops. 🤭😱😷😷😷😷

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kerin SienkiewiczApril 1, 2021 at 6:12 AM

      That is the EN1, the main road going north if you are not heading east to the coast. All of the heavy duty traffic moving goods & produce travels these roads. Hang in there for my next post, the EN1 would prove to be a veritable highway in comparison

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