The Bazroba

Going to the bazroba (market) is a very necessary part of life in Georgia—and something we really enjoy doing. There are many markets all over the city, but only one huge, central market. You can find ANYTHING you want (we are convinced) at the bazroba—if you’re willing to walk and hunt. It seems like an endless maze of tables, stands, and vendors selling a wide variety of goods. It can be quite interesting to see the mix of items that you’ll find side by side.
We took Shirley’s Mom to the market so she could smell the smells and see what the ‘bazroba’ is all about. The vendors can be very creative in their efforts to draw customers over to their stand. It’s neat to see how they display their goods, like these colorful piles of dried fruits and nuts, and the seemingly endless rows/displays of fruits, vegetables…It’s quite a sight to take in. And there are many sections of the market to explore and experience—the fresh fruits and vegetables, dry goods, flowers, spices, clothing, fish—and still there are more.
Most interesting (in my opinion) is the meat market. There you will see rows and rows of chickens and piglets on tables; hearts and livers strung up for sale; pigs feet and heads, different cuts of beef—and all the other animal parts for sale that we don’t recognize. The smells can be very strong—especially the cheeses—which is all part of the ‘market’ experience.

We enjoy going to the market and we often go the the same vendors who now recognize us when we come. Many times they give some little treat to Ayanna, like yogurt, candy or a bracelet. The Georgians have a soft spot for children.