Day 58: Mtumba

          Think that all the stores have to sell in Tanzania is Kangas and Kitenges?  Think again!  You can buy all the latest fashions in designer jeans and the like.  Second hand, of course.
          Where, you ask?  At Mtumba, Moshi's international goodwill flea market.  I got to visit it today with Baba and Mjomba Terevaeli.  I spend the morning lazing about (and working on this blog) while Baba talked to some friends that had come over to see us.  By the time we got to Mtumba, it was late in the afternoon, and shops were beginning to close up.  Now, and early in the morning when everything's still opening up is the best time to come and buy.
          In the morning, shop owners are uncertain as to how the day will pay out, and are willing to settle for some quick cash so as to make sure they have some profit to show.  Once they get a little money under their belts, the merchants settle down for some hard bargaining, going for the big money.  At the end of the day, however, things swing back in favor of the customer, as the merchants are eager to make some last few sales before closing up shop.
          Mtumba is a giant grid of wooden slat stalls.  There's no real pattern to the layout, other than the "hotels" (restaurants) in the middle, you can find anything anywhere.  There are entire stalls that sell just shoes, or towels and napkins, backpacks, suitcases, designer shirts and jeans, and even underwear.  Upendo (Peter's mother's helper, not my cousin) was wearing a nice pair of designer jeans that likely came from a market like this one.
          How do the merchants of Mtumba get their wares?  Most of it is donated by first world countries through various organizations.  Shoes from Italy, backpacks from Sweden, stuff comes in from all over.  After wandering around for a good while (I didn't buy anything, but both Baba and Mjomba Terevaeli did), we went to the Salzburger Café (owned by Terevaeli) for dinner.  Afterward I plugged in my laptop to work on this blog while Baba and Terevaeli chatted.  It was then that I was reminded of the 7:30 blackout, which hit right on schedule, as it does almost habitually.  Fortunately, my laptop also has a battery, so I didn't really have to worry till nine, when my power started to get low.  Once again, Thank you Grandma for this Laptop!!!


E’ya! - Tate


Jump to: Days 55-57 or Day 59