Across the river bed

On the south side of Hargeisa, there is a livestock market well worth visiting. And I was hoping they were selling camels there too today. 

I woke a bit later than usual, had a shower and some pancakes before heading out into the heat. I could have taken a taxi, but I like walking. Gives me a better chance to see and absorb my surroundings. And to find some surprising things along the way. 

I had already found a way towards the market, and could find it on my phone. All I had to do, was to walk to the money market and start from there. Easy peasy. Or so I thought. Turns out, the road on Google Maps was now a market. A rather big market. Where the aisles didn't match the street underneath. So I got lost a couple of times before I found my way through. And on the other side, I found myself on the banks of the dried out river. Which, again according to Google Maps, was the street. And people seemed to be using this...errr...street. When in Rome etc. So I walked across the riverbed like the locals, and soon I was in a proper street. 

The sandy type. With houses and schools, and... beauty salons. I walked towards the livestock market. Enjoying watching the daily life of the locals along the way.

Several people, both young and old, wanted to shake my hand and welcome me to Hargeisa and Somaliland. And one guy in a car stopped and asked where I was going. I assumed he was a taxi, so I said I was just walking. Later, I realized that is not uncommon to give people a lift. So he was just trying to be nice to this sweaty foreigner. Walking in the scorching sun. I had to stop in the shade several times and cool off. And unlike some other places, nobody here thought that was an odd sight. Of course you stop in the shade! Would be stupid not to!

After a while, I started smelling the obvious. Livestock. A big area packed with sellers and buyers. But, unfortunately, this time there were no camels in sight. Only a ton of goats. People selling one goat, or a pack of them. A cacophony of "mehehehehe" everywhere. People bargaining. Trucks moving bought goats. Loved it. Spent some time walking around and taking some pictures. 

But after a while, I could really feel the heat of the day. So I decided to retreat to get some food and drink. Ate camel burger at the same place I had the steak. Paid with shillings. A big wad of shillings. Hostess did not like. At all. She gave up counting in the end. And just said "Ok".

Tomorrow, I will go to Laas Geel. One of the main reasons to go here!

Ragnar

Traveller crossing the river