The Perfect “Penny Candy” Shop
When I was growing up, I used to love to independently run down to the corner shop where I would take my dime or quarter and fill up on penny candy or other snacks, like Hostess cupcakes. A dime would get you a Hershey’s plain chocolate bar and a quarter would be a drink and an assortment of candies. I didn’t do this often, but often enough.
This window shop in Tunisia reminds me of that time. The great thing about it is you can just buy the amount that you can afford. In the States nowadays, you can still buy these items: candy, nuts, sunflower seeds, but they come packaged and I’m sure they cost upwards of a dollar, maybe two. It’s just not the same.
While traveling through the Turkey, and other parts of the Mid-East, I have often come across people in ruins, churches, other tourist sites, and especially the men will greet me and pull a handful of sunflower or pumpkin seeds out of their pockets to share with me. It’s so welcoming, so touching.
I remember going to the candy stands at a branch of a shop called Woolworths which was huge in England for years before it closed down a while back. I’d get so much glee in picking up the paper bag and filling it with different sweets – my favourites were always the marshmallow-like coconut mushrooms! Love how this scene brought back those childhood memories for you 🙂
Shihka, Thanks. I love it, too!
Yummy!
We were offered nuts on the banks of the Tonle Sap in Phnom Penh. The person who was offering was certainly poor and made us think about people who have hardly anything offering to share what they have with (by their standards Rich) tourists.
Jan, It is so humbling, isn’t it?
We had a “tuck shop” over the road from school, but I never had money to go there. It was full of huge jars of delights like “penny sticks” – a very rare treat. One day I hope to go to Tunisia – perhaps this man will give me some seeds to snack from my pocket!
I have just found you through Budget Travel Talk – via – Travel Photo Thursday.
It is wonderful to “meet” you. Happy travels.
Jill, First thanks for stopping by. I hope you do get to Tunisia and buy some snacks…it’s a fantastic destination.
What a wonderful little candy shop to find. I remember back when I was little and candy bars went from $.05 to $.10. Those days are long gone now.
Rhonda, I hear you!