Market Shopping in Conakry

We went shopping at the big markets in Conakry, bargaining for all sorts of everyday items we would need for site: stoves, pans, spatulas, spices, metal trunks, locks, hammers, watering cans, etc. It was basic insanity. Guineans would come from all corners carrying everything imaginable trying to sell it to us. It wasn't hard for them to figure out that we were there to buy and buy big. A lot of us got really ripped off at Marche Niger our first day; the vendors would start haggling at prices over 5x the correct price. At one point, a vendor acting as a middle man for some of our purchases got frustrated at my friend Molly, and tapped her against the face with a frying pan. We ran away on narrow paths under uneven roofs through the market maze and he followed us. I had to explain to him that it was not acceptable to hit her. Later I heard that some other Peace Corps people in my training group were enjoying a leisurely lunch in the patisserie on the second floor up above the market. They looked out the window and saw me going off at this man in the middle of the street and laughed because it was so out of character for me. We finally ditched him and managed some productive shopping. The next day at Marche Medina (apparently the largest market in West Africa) we found some better deals. I had to haggle with a man in Pular for about an hour to get a great deal on two large metal trunks. I found an awesome duvet cover with stars and the moon on one side and a blue sky and clouds on the other. It was probably sent over to Guinea by Salvation Army- they sell second-hand items at low prices to African market vendors in bulk. I hear that Africa also receives the Superbowl and World Series champions shirts that are pre-printed with the team that actually loses in the end proclaimed as world champions. I already have some requests to keep a look out for some favorite teams winning finals they actually lost...