One ofthe highlights of the week is going to the TUESDAY SOUK.
Heading the procession is “Head Cook.” Next comes the women from the casbah who wish to go.
Usually the ladies in the Harem sends lists with their servant girls. The children of the Kasbah running and shrieking with happiness. Knowing there will be candy when the sugar loaves are haggled over, and paid for. And then, a half-dozen men on Arabian Steeds…men and horses dressed elaborately.
Riding in the front and back of the noisy group all moving towards the Village and the Tizi Souk.

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GOING TO MARKET

Heavily laden camels, and asses, proudly walking towards the village.

With their owners calling out “Balek!” “Balek!” (make way!).Rabia

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...Halal (Kosher) meat, beef, sheep, and camel… fat, clucking chickens and quacking duck’s in the far corner of the souk. A brightly coloured stripped goat-hair tent in another corner selling sugar loaves, fresh eggs both duck and chicken eggs all displayed by their different colours and sizes. Olives and their fresh pressed oils, next to bread, still warm from the oven. Great jars of honey from the bee keeper. So many kinds…next to stacked boxes of Green Tea.Rabia

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...and women’s necessities…( many bottles of rose and orange-flower water

are going back to the Casbah today!) as well as precious incense, flowers and decorative pottery.
From the orchards, overflowing baskets of fruit… grapes, figs, Oranges, lemons and pomegranates…many kinds of dates. It is the “Feast of the Cherries.” And everyone is in a gay mood. "Head Cook" points to a large basket of dark juicy
cherries.

Rabia

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And through all of this charcoal braziers filled with shish kabobs, for eating on the way home. The water carrier can be heard his bell tinkling, his copper cups shining, the musicians are playing louder, “Where are the children?” “Ah, the snakecharmer,” one of the men yells. And from another “the story teller!”
And this is the sign to quickly gather all together and begin the slow trek back to the Casbah.

Through the gossiping, dissecting, laughter, shouting and a variety of animal noises... now it is hurry…hurry…hurry, before the sun is high. And they join the procession of men, women, children and their heavy laden donkeys and camels. Amidst the Cheers of the by- standers, one of the men Shows off his horse skills on his richly harnessed mount.

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Would someone like to go with me to Market next Tuesday.  I need some spices and fruits and some things...

I was thinking of haveing a little gathering of friends and have tea's and coffee's and lovely delicate baked favourites.

Let me know.  Thank you.

Jandi

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I would love to go to the market next Tuesday with you, Jandi.  I need some dried fruits to make an Italian Easter bread in a few weeks.  I could also use the exercise of walking to the market.  I hope the weather will be nice.  See you then.

Patricia

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I will meet you tomorrow to go to the Market.  I hope weather permitting also.

I haven't been to this particular market yet...But I hear they are well supplied with everything we will need.

Let's stop for a nice turkish  coffee and some baklavah on the way there, ok?

Jandi

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Are you ready to shop?

I brought baskets to carry the things we buy.

Look over there!  

Taste this...isn't it good?

We will have some of these...and a dozen of those...

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Look at all those spices! 

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Patricia, we must follow the Head Cook...she will show us what we need to buy.

Watch her...she knows how to haggle the prices...

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Saalam.
Balek!  Make way!  We're coming.
Oh, my, such a glorious early morning to walk to the Souk with Jandi and the other women from the village.  The air was cool and the was warm.  We talked and laughed as we walked.

  Our noses knew  before our that we were almost there.  We headed first for the Café because we are both coffee afficianados, and enjoyed  a  of Turkish coffe with some freshly sliced fruits and breads.  Ah,  delightful.  Then on to the serious business of shopping!!

I wandered to the first merchant I saw with dried and candied fruits.  I sampled his citron.  Ooh, bitter, nasty.  I smiled, nodded, and walked away.  Around the corner and down another pathway, separated by the brightly colored fabrics hung round the booths by each merchant, I found another merchant.  I sampled his citron.  Ah, sweet and tart!  And the candied cherries--not too sweet and just the right texture.  This was the merchant for me!  I bought the citron, red cherries, dried pineapple, dried apples, green cherries.
This merchant also sold nuts.  I tried the blanched almonds and they were fine.  I bought more than I needed for my Easter Bread so I will have a supply on hand.  I love to add them to green beans!!

Oops.  Time goes so quickly!  I leave to meet Jandi and the other women at our appointed place.  Oh, no!    I'm lost!  I twisted and turned between the vendors and didn't keep track of where I went.

    "Jandi, where are you?" 
    "Why didn't I pay attention to where I was going? "    

"Patricia?...Patricia?"  I think I hear my name and look around.  Yes  , some of the women from the village are calling me.  And   look, there is Jandi! "   " I say  ishly.  "I got lost!"  Everyone laughs except me.    I hug Jandi and everyone. 

Gee, it was a great trip to the Tizi Souk. 

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Oh yes, this is a good day for shopping.  Can we stop for one more cup of turkish coffee ...that was good!

Hold up a minute ladies...I need to get some nuts also...

...now where was that vendor?....I am all turned around.  .....oops ...excuse me sir,I tripped over my skirt...(thinking some of the hem came loose)

...I am sorry I knocked over the big canvas bag of almonds.....here...let me help.....

Patricia  .....Head Cook! ...please wait a minute...I did it again!....

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