Up early to find that Istanbul was covered in thick, dense cloud and that it was heaving with rain.
By the time we left the Four Seasons Sultanahmet, it was raining even more heavily!
So we drove the 10 minutes to The Grand Bazaar. It opens at 0830 so we waited in the van ... feeling very miserable ...
The Grand Bazaar is the largest covered indoor market in the world. It was built in 1461 by Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror, expanded in the 16th century by Suleiman the Magnificent and updated in 1894 after a massive earthquake hit Istanbul. There are over 60 streets and walkways with 4500 plus shops + boutiques that sell everything from gold & silver to fridge magnets & soap. The Bazaar attracts around 500,000 visitors a DAY! We had fun!
I was so tempted to buy a real Meerschaum pipe but I am still more of a cigar man!
These are made of Meerschaum too ... too expensive for me ... sadly ...
This little kitten was fast asleep on some slippers. There are 1000's of stray cats & dogs in Istanbul BUT they are looked after by the locals. Respect ....
This was not my bus ... but we still tried to commandeer it!
Istanbul and indeed Turkey is not known for its fine-cuisine but Esra Muslu is putting that right. She was the first chef/owner of a fine-dining restaurant (Moreish) in Istanbul and now has NuPera and Backyard too (where I met her today). She learnt her trade around the world including in north London! She does not cook fancy food, just the food she likes ... and she does it VERY well. I learnt how to make a lamb dish ... which will appear on the show! It was a delightful afternoon ....
Lunch was at a local restaurant which has been in business since 1912 - I had an enormous salad!
Finally the rain stopped and we headed to the Spice Bazaar/Egyptian Bazaar/Misir Carsisi ... just 1 km from the Grand Bazaar and 10 minutes from the hotel.
It was built in the 1600's ... and was where spices were bought & sold when brought over from Egypt (so the name). The rent paid by all the shops goes towards the maintenance of the Yeni Mosque which dominates that part of the city skyline ...
I chose some turmeric ...
but did not try the cheese!The boys are at supper ... I just need sleep ... so ... goodnight!
Song of the Day: Here comes the Rain again - Eurythmics
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzFnYcIqj6I
Weather: Hmmmm
