Kosupa Travel

Meeting a Guide

As I stood there bewildered, an elderly local guide approached me with a friendly greeting. He claimed to know Merkato well and spoke some English. Surprisingly, he offered to guide me through the market for free, saying he had time to spare. Despite the suspicious circumstances, I didn’t want to abandon my market exploration. After some consideration, I accepted his offer.

Venturing Deep Into Merkato

With my guide’s help, we explored various sections of Merkato. Shops selling frankincense, spices, and general goods were packed tightly together, creating the feeling of walking through a distinct town. As the guide explained different items, I completely lost track of our location within the vast market.

Throughout our tour, the guide would casually chat in Amharic with vendors, showing his comfort in the environment. While I initially worried about being asked for payment later or being led to a secluded area for extortion, he genuinely seemed to be just a friendly person with free time.

An Unexpected “Souvenir”

After touring the market, the guide mentioned he needed to buy something and briefly left me. When he returned, he handed me a package, calling it a “souvenir.” Opening it nervously, I was shocked to find marijuana inside!

I was stunned by this unexpected gift. The guide laughingly claimed that marijuana was legal in Ethiopia. This was absolutely false – I had already researched and knew it was illegal. Perhaps he was referring to some unwritten local custom?

Regardless, this was definitely not a souvenir I could accept. I discreetly disposed of it in a trash bin. While I felt bad about rejecting his goodwill, engaging in illegal activities was absolutely not an option.

Final Thoughts

Merkato truly is a place of chaos and vibrant energy. While visitors need to be vigilant about pickpockets and theft, having a guide can make the experience much safer (despite potential unusual situations). If you’re visiting Ethiopia, consider exploring Merkato – just be cautious about unexpected “gifts”!