A common complaint this morning, as I strolled through a bristling market in downtown Les Cayes. After the first scolding, I always asked permission to take photos, and offered to pay a few goudes for the privilege. Despite the offering (perhaps not enough?), I would say most people did not want their picture taken. I can only guess why, and choose not to do so here.

A year ago this market would be empty of food due to the battering of successive hurricanes, which would eventually lead to food riots in this very town, killing a number of civilians.  Today business is good. There is food to be bought and sold; although the occasional stall full of US government grain is disturbing and unavoidable (highly subsidized in the US, given to Haiti at extremely low prices, undercutting local farmers price points and subsequently putting them out of business).

A year ago they sold mud cakes here. Mud cakes resemble little flat pastries. Only they’re made out of dirt. And people buy them.

Today, the mud cakes are still here, still for sale. Nobody knows why. People still buy them. Perhaps they developed a taste for them. Perhaps some people are still too poor to afford anything else. Real food.

To see the rest of the photos I took today at the market, click on this link.