And so it begins: Vendors of Madagascar

Vendors of Madagascar

The unit of money is the ariary. 1 € is about 2900 ariary and $1.00 cdn is about 2000 ariary as of 2010. The value of the ariary has been rather stable for a few years. The currency system was overhauled in 2006. Prior to 2006 the unit of currency was the Malagasy Franc (Franc Malgache) and was worth 1/5 of an ariary, for example, 10,000 Francs = 2000 Ariary. However, old banknotes in Francs are still legal tender. Whenever negotiating a price, always confirm the amount in ariary. Unscrupulous merchants have been known to state the amount due without specifying the currency so that buyers are duped into paying 5 times the amount due because of Franc/Ariary confusion. You can withdraw money from ATM's in the cities, using a Visa or Visa Electron card. Mastercard can be used with ATM's of the BNI bank. Vanilla and other spices are cheap in Madagascar compared to Europe or elsewhere, and the quality (especially of vanilla) is very good. (Vanilla is about 2 € for 10 pods in Mada, compared to 3 € for 2 pods in France.)

Tire Shop

Bike repair shop

7-11 Corner Convienene Store

Beauty Salon

Upholstery Shop-despite the "front window display", the workmanship is very professional

Another Beauty Parlor

Tire Shop

Mechanics

Wooden framed mirrors and leather belts

Fruit Stand - Oranges are in season, and of course Bananas are always in season

Aluminum Pots and Pans

Furniture Store

Butcher Shop- this one mostly chickens

Motorcycle Parts Shop

Photocopy Store

Hair Salon-there seem to be one every 4th store

another meat market

Another Butcher, this one sells sausages

Bike Tire Repair Shop

Score, one of the 2 grocery stores

Score is French owned and run

Bazar Kelly Kelly (small market, maily local shoppers)

Plastics Store

Rice, lentils

More rice and lentils

A mixture of everything

Bike shop

Restuarant

Bank, guards on duty

music, CD's, etc

Misc stuff

Java Hotel, when your sitting outside on the patio having cafe au lait, the locals always have something for you to buy! They actually have a security guard on the patio to contain the sellers from bothering you

The window of a ladies dress shop

More Bananas

These jugs are fruit that is fermenting in the sun, which turns to alcohol

One of the local Petrol stations. Very modern

Foam for matresses

A local store that sells soup to nuts. Usually only 1 or 2 items of everything. Some of these stores are so small you wouldn't think of entering them.

Shoe Store. Notice only 1 shoe is hung, if you want to buy them, then they get the other shoe for you. This eliminates theft. (no good with only one shoe!)