Cocody Market

Cocody Market is the place to go to buy West African souvenirs. On the bottom level, most of the boutiques have typical market wares -- fruits, vegetables, shoes, clothing. But the upper level is dedicated solely to African crafts -- masks, jewelry, tableclothes, swords, baskets, carvings ... anything you could possibly be searching for.

It's really fun to look around and try to bargain for a good price. Bargaining is a game: the vendor starts with a price much higher than he's really willing to accept, and you counter with a price much lower than what you're actually willing to pay. Gradually, and with much drama, you work your way towards the middle -- a price that's acceptable to both of you.


The guy below gave me a good price because I was his first client of the day. The vendors believe that if they give their first customer a bargain, they will have good business for the rest of the day.
We have heard of missionaries who get so used to bargaining for everything that when they return to the U.S., they try to negotiate prices at the Wal-Mart checkout counter. Wonder if we'll be like that after three years?