Roadside Vendors on Route Nationale 7, Madagascar

Not so far out of Tana you see a lot of roadside vendors and their toys - all made from beaten metal soft drinks cans

Peas for sale - the empty tin can is a universal Malagasy unit of measurement

At another roadside stop, this kid appeared with a basket of pokpok on his head - Cape Gooseberries

Nice-looking veggies in the highlands

A second-hand shoe seller on the street somewhere...

Service please
Pastries for sale in Ambositra

A woman and her sewing business on the street

Kids toys for rent in the main street, Antsirabe

To open a phone recharge shop all you need is a box big enough to stand up in and you are in business.
Apart from hairdressers, I think this was one of the most common businesses in the towns we drove through.

Another tiny little local shop selling - I'm not quite sure what it is selling but the yellow 20-litre containers are an indication that there's no connected water - someone has to go and fill these up (it costs 20 Ar for a fill up = 5c) so the residents can have fresh water...

Another roadside halt - this time to see a demonstration of how the locals weave sisal.
Most of the sisal products are robust and useful, like baskets, hats, dinner mats, etc.

This woman is laying dried flowers (that she picked in the morning) onto freshly made paper pulp to make illustrated stationary...

Advertising hording on the highway.

In the south villages are dirt-poor - one shop offering a few tomatoes only...

Same situation in the south - dirt poor.
The entire family is sitting in the 'shop' waiting for a passer-by to buy something

An agricultural supplies shop selling rice in carefully colour-coded sacks.
Empty sacks are used to make sails for fishing boats.

Three Horses Beer advertising is everywhere...