Chaotic by ordered
The city of Bamako is already basically one big bazaar in which all of the inhabitants seem have something to sell and every unoccupied corner is a good place for an impromptu store. However, there is a place where the haggling, buying and selling, exchanging and skullduggery are the true protagonists: the Grand Marche, Central Market, Pink Market, or any of the other equally-valid names given to the main market in Bamako which, oddly, has no official name.
The Grand Marche is found at the corner of Avenue de la Republique and Mohammad V street, not far from the Place de la Liberté. It's not quite as spectacular as the "Merkato" of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia although it does rival it in color, aroma, and flavor. Visiting a market like this gives you the opportunity to get to know the spirit of the city (or attempt to, observe the people in their daily routine, see what they eat, how they dress, the jewelry and trinkets they like, how they argue, why and how they laugh, if they're hurried or relaxed, or if they're able to wrap up the interminable back-and-forths with the vendors.
