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Published: June 18th 2011
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Day 8
Today our plan is to visit the Spice Market and the Grand Bazaar. This Hilton also has a nice executive lounge that provides breakfast with a beautiful view. We wish we could say the breakfast was as beautiful as the view, but oh well, it fills our tummies.
Back in the room I am not sure what to wear. I have heard this country is a mix of old world and new world traditions of how women are to dress. The guide books state that to enter the mosques women must cover past their knees and shoulders, but I am not sure what is acceptable on the regular streets. I settle on capri pants with a v-neck tee. Everything about me still screams American. We change some money at the front desk and grab a taxi to the Spice Market. The majority of the top attractions are located on a peninsula known as the Golden Horn, including the Spice Market and the Grand Bazaar.
As we ride in the taxi we feel like we are in a get away car in a movie. The drivers think nothing of dodging in and out of
other cars, trucks, and tour buses. Their skill of maneuvering is literally breathtaking. We arrive and catch our breath as the taxi driver points us in the direction to the Spice Market. Walking through a small square in front of the market, vendors are selling corn on the cob as a snack for the equivalent of 60cents. We laugh at the corn carts but it actually looks pretty good.
At the Spice Market there are spices of all colors and flavors. There is also turkish delight, pashminas, and ceramics. Tons of knick-knacks are for sale. We marvel at the colors and smells, of which, some are not so good (cigarettes in a small confined space). Not ready to buy, we make note of the items for sale. We want to check out the Grand Bazaar before committing to buy.
After receiving directions from some friendly Turks, we zig-zag down multiple streets before arriving at the Grand Bazaar. It is quite overwhelming. Thousands of shops line the covered streets. Every other shop has basically the same things, scarves, ceramics, lighting fixtures, rugs, leather, and jewelry. The merchants are not up in our face as we expected. They do
try to get you to come into their shop but once you say "no" they back off. If interested in practicing your bargaining skills sounds fun, this is the place. We purchase a few souvenirs and start making our way back out. While stopped in a leather shop, the call to prayer can be heard blaring over a loud speaker. The shop keeper tells us that the voice is calling Muslims to the midday prayer. Warren purchased a new leather wallet and Brian a new leather belt for a pretty good deal.
While making our way back towards the Spice Market, Muslims have lined the streets and are performing their prayers. They are standing shoeless on what appear to be something like a tablecloth on the ground. They are not phased by the passersby.
Back at the Spice Market multiple shops school us on the varieties and grades of saffron. Per ounce, saffron is just about as expensive as gold. We taste samples and compare quality. Of course, we had to buy some to take home because in the states it is even more pricey and is usually of lesser quality. We also purchase vanilla, tea and sample more turkish delight.
The smells and tastes have begun to make our stomachs growl so we take a taxi back to the hotel. This taxi driver also drives like we have just robbed a bank and we are trying to get away from the cops. Apparently this is normal here and it no longer makes us nervous. He has even mastered this skill while talking on his cell phone! At the hotel we hit the executive lounge for afternoon drinks and snacks. While we rest our feet for the early evening hours, we watch How to Train a Dragon on T.V. in the room.
For dinner, we follow the concierge's advice and walk five minutes up the street to Venge. The food is good but nothing special. Le Gourmet has ruined any other restaurants chances for the rest of our trip.
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