Market Rounds

Where do we go when we need to buy?

Shahmansur Market, or "The Green Bazaar" -- produce and foodstuffs, also all kinds of manufactured household goods and hardware, right in the center of Dushanbe

neighborhood bazaar "Varzob" -- small produce market (with plenty of other food and other stuff) within walking distance of our house

supermarkets Orima and Paikar, a couple of blocks west of Dushanbe's Opera and Ballet theater -- more imported and higher quality foodstuffs, more reliable freshness, more comfortable shopping experience for the Western expat, more likely to come closer to one-stop shopping, and all of it costing more money

Sultoni Kabir -- a pretty amazing Central Asian open-air Home Depot

TsUM, or the Central Universal Store -- state-run department store conveniently located right in the center of town, a reliable option for plastics, toys, larger manufactured household items, some souvenirs

Sadbarg -- clothes, shoes, toys, toiletries/personal care, stationery goods

the wholesale shops next to the railroad station -- all kinds of food and drink at wholesale prices. We mostly go for the juice, milk, and beer, for the chance to buy a "blok" of 12-20 units all at once and get a ride home, rather than lugging the tetrapaks on foot, piecemeal.

(Where are we? We live in the neighborhood that lies just to the north of the Botanical Gardens.)