You can buy a bra in Africa
A bra stall in Boauké, the second largest city in the Ivory Coast
Because of limited internet over the coming weeks, I’m going to stick with posting glimpses of West Africa. My long posts with heaps of pics will come later.
So this brief post is in reply to those who commented on my on last post. Given the bumpy, bouncy ride, I said I should have bought a sports bra. Just so you know, you can buy plenty of bras in Africa. I’m just not game to stop and try them on.
P.S. All undies—for men and women—are sold this way.
Bras for sale in Yamoussoukro, the capital of the Ivory Coast
Where to next? 
Love it! I would just grab what looks right.
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Nice idea but I have to try them on.
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Dear Peggy, this brought to my mind a memory of being taken to a flea market in Odessa by my grandfather and encountering a big burly Georgian (a country, not a state) standing with dozens or bras hanging off his extended arms. As a moderately shy teenager, I sort of whispered, “Do you have size 2?” The man brought both arms forward (bras still hanging off them), almost touched my breasts, and yelled, “You have to try them on, girl!”
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What a wonderful story. Thanks so much for sharing it here.
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Makes for a very original umbrella – and a creative solution to foundation problems.
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Umbrellas get put to very good use here even when it’s not raining.
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I’m not sure I can imagine you walking around with one of these umbrellas over your head shielding you from the sun – though those hanging bras might be great for keeping away the bugs.
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Brilliant idea. I may invest in one.
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A good range of colours!
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I’m partial to purple.
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Fabulous photo!
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How would you paint this?
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With lots bright colours and shadows (second photo has more visual clarity than the first)!!!
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Even if they had a changing room I would not be game to strip off and try one on there either. I seem to remember the africans not being so shy as us.
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I getting less concerned about stripping off in foreign lands, but still not interested in trying on bras in the street.
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May take a while to find your size there…Lol… 🙂
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A good long while.
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Enjoy your time and stay safe. 😊
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Reminds me of jellyfish, super find.
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Great description. Thanks.
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I actually love the frequent brief posts with snippets for description and a few pictures.
At least you have variety. Get your bra on, Peggy!
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Thanks for you vote of confidence.
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Haha. You’re very welcome!
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I have to say that a few of those look like they might have been ‘previously worn’. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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I think you’re right. 🙂
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They have such a different approach, in some areas so moralistic, in others so devoid of shame as we would experience it.
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In this case, it’s not a case of being devoid of shame. There aren’t department stores with change rooms, just street-side stalls selling everything you can imagine.
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Amazing.
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Yeah, but if Delta loses your luggage try to buy a pair of man undies in Catolica, Italy that aren’t all satiny and slippery. Manties. I bought two, my luggage showed up in two days, they didn’t make the ride home. However that cluster of bras was more colorful than what you see walking in the lingerie side of Macy’s.
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Oh gosh you made me laugh. Pity you didn’t bring the manties home. You could share a pic. Poor John is glad to hear he’s not the only man who has to stroll through the lingerie side of a department store.
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There’s always that “black duct tape.” As a fellow so “blessed,” I feel your pain!
N in Omaha
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I’m in luck. One of our travelling companions has brought a big roll of duct tape.
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This is hilarious! This is banned in some African countries including Kenya. No undergarment flea market.
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Hahaha! Then I’d better bring my own underwear to Kenya.
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That’s certainly different to popping in the shops over here. With lack of changing rooms I guess it’s a case of buy one & hope for the best!
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I bring mine from home. Will be in big trouble if they get stolen.
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Make sure they lift as well as separate, Peggy! And no bones either. H always asks for my opinion on that item and even gets me to take it to the cashier after which she will ask; did they fit alright, Gerard?
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I prefer the ones with bones, which are really metal and set off the buzzers in airports.
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I don’t wear bras and would not like bones in my underwear.
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Mine are underwires. 🙂
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I remember bra and panty tables in Italy also, but Never saw any way for a lady to privately check size
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I didn’t check to see if the labels noted the size. Maybe next time I see a heavily laden umbrella.
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I’m just looking forward to the next nature documentary where David Attenborough will tell us all about the life cycle of the West African Bra Jellyfish.
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Perfect description. Thanks.
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Many of the ‘old ma’s’ in Liberia were quite happy to go without. And I have heard lots of definitions of how bumpy the roads are in West Africa, but this is a new one! 🙂
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Plenty of the old mamas still go without. I don’t want to embarrass my travelling companions.
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Laughing, Peggy. There was a story I read some time ago about a woman who would go topless in remote villages. As I recall, she said it caused instant rapport. –Curt
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Not sure my travelling companions would agree. hahaha
In Liberia now and not as many bras for sale? Hmm?
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Hee hee! Makes sense to me. I’d rather get a bra this way than from the crazy-techno-in-your-face-PINK world of Victoria’s Secret. 🙂
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I’ve never set foot in a Victoria’s Secret shop, and I haven’t bought a bra off an umbrella either. I did shop for a bra in South America once and gave up when they insisted on selling me one three sizes too small.
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Eeesh! That would be so uncomfortable!
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My first look at your blog was pictures of bare-breasted women. You’ve now taken pictures from the sublime to the ridiculous!
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I’ve seen plenty more bare-breasted women here, mostly feeding babies. They (mums and bubs) look so serene.
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Those bras look rather nice, Peggy. So sorry I have missed all your posts – they didn’t come through on my feed but I look forward to catching up.
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Delighted you’ve been able to drop in. I haven’t looked at my feed for weeks. Mostly because internet has been so erratic.
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How wonderful to escape from the internet for a while!
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Yes, but hard to keep up with a blog. 🙂
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Interesting post… colorful indeed 😀
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Thanks so much. Glad you stopped by.
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shoulda, woulda, coulda…o well…continue…,
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Or continue to bounce, bounce, bounce.
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