Merkato

Every week in Addis Ababa people gather at 'merkato', Italian for market. This is a large area on the northwest side of town where people amass to buy and sell their wares. Although there is market activity every day, Wednesdays and Saturdays are designated as the primary days since people come from the rural areas some 30 kilometers away, bringing their goods on the backs of donkeys. Apparently you can buy anything at merkato, and it attracts both the wealthy and the poor alike. Some notables items apparently sold at merkato are non-paired, single shoes, and discarded food that is collected and then sold by the handful to beggars for about 25-50 cents. I was also told there is a movie theater at markato, although I don't know if they sell popcorn by the kernel.
It's better to go to merkato with a guide, of course, not only because the area is sprawling and one could easily get lost in the madness, but also because there are pickpockets that might target wandering tourists. Yesterday I saw a local man near merkato who certainly wasn't a pickpocket; he didn't have any pockets himself, and in fact, he wasn't wearing any pants. He was just walking along the street with everyone else wearing nothing but a long-sleeve shirt and sandals. Maybe he went shopping at a store that sold outfits one item at a time? Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if they sold non-paired pants, one leg at a time. Of course this could be a local measure to avoid pickpockets--i.e. pickpockets, and everyone else, will avoid you.