To Mirabad Bazaar

The housing is settled, now it's time to forage for some food. Easing into a new post means starting small. Figure out where you live, figure out where you are going to shop for staples. Basic caveman checklist for 2021.

There are a handful of modern grocery stores around Tashkent. You've got your shelf stable cartons of milk, some wrapped cheese, maybe those Barilla pasta boxes. Ho hum, what's the fun of re-creating a Safeway experience?

Time to head to a bazaar.

Here's Mirabad Bazaar. A wagon wheel of personal stalls, filled with vendors selling the bedrocks of sustenance. Pick your aisle and start loading.

It's summer, fruits and veggies are plentiful. The sellers do a nice job with the set dressing, a little greenery for trimming, a little wax for longevity. Staples of Central Asia, honey and sesame seeds.

The melon men with the day's catch. Ooof.

Spice packets, always aggressive and a little stereotypical with their imagery. Gee, which pepper is from Asia and which pepper from Africa?

The humble whole chicken, wrapped and ready for a new home.