More photos of new hypermarche

Sally and I enjoyed exploring the Erevan Hypermarche this morning at a leisurely pace whilst the kids were in the ship's Summer Program. It really does stock everything that an ex-pat in Benin needs, and all at reasonable prices. Enjoy the photos.

Below, from the outside.

Below, the entrance foyer.

Below, the fresh fruit and veg stall: small but perfectly formed.

Below: everything you can imagine.

Below: the car-care items.

Below: flat-packed furniture.

Below, some empty shelves still waiting their stock.

Below: fancy a bbq?

Below, one of several deli counters.

Below: a huge variety of ice cream.

Below: a huge variety of wines.

OK - so you are probably reading this blog from the US or Europe, and thinking "so whats the big deal?". But if you are familiar with West Africa, you will probably be as amazed as we are that a store like this has opened in Benin, of all places. With the occasional exception (like Abi Joudi supermarket in Monrovia), most supermarkets in West Africa are small and maybe smelly, and crammed full of dusty stock from America, Europe, South Africa and the Arab world, some of which is a long way out-of-date. If a store like Erevan had opened in Liberia when we lived there, our lives would have been so much easier. Olly