The US has a different lifestyle and it’s centered around the automobile. As a result there are fewer Grocery Stores and they are often several miles apart. These stores are normally large and offer services like a Banking & a Pharmacy. Smaller, little convenance markets like a Seven-Eleven are often closer to home and more expensive.
This pattern doesn’t hold here in North Cyprus; the smaller little shops are numerous and may be cheaper than the Supermarkets. The Supermarkets (Grocery Stores) are not big when compared to their American counterparts and never offer extra services. They sometimes charge more than the corner markets.
The reason why you bother going to a Supermarket is because they offer more product categories and a bigger selection within each category. But really, if your after some milk, there is little reason to drive to one of the bigger markets. There are also speciality stores here that don’t exists in other countries. One place here sells chicken and there’s another that only sells fruits & vegetables.
While we are on the subject; there’s also the issue of fresh fruits & vegetables. Let’s say you walk into a shop and you see strawberries. If you want them, buy them; they will be gone until next year in a couple of weeks. There are no jets carrying fresh strawberries from the Southern Hemisphere.
Pricing is also an issue. Name brands from the UK or US will cost half again more than the same item made in this region. It’s common to find something very, very close to your favorite brand at half the price. Show some flexibility and you will cut a third off your food bill.
Living on an Island does have another drawback: If a ship doesn’t come on time, that item will simply sell out. Everywhere. It doesn’t have to be some specific brand of Brie cheese, it can be as common as Sprite. This doesn’t happen every week but you will notice it over time. The key is flexibility and attitude. Yavash Yavash
