The Grand Bazar is a maze of over 4000 shops arranged in a grid pattern of 61 streets. It is covered and there are 21 gates that allow entry and exit. There was a metal detector at each gate but everybody seemed to set it off with impunity. We had already bought all the spices we needed at the Spice Bazar and so there was only two things that we wanted to get. The first was a tiny brass ring to attach to my pendant that I got in Athens. It was hanging wrong and I wanted the ring to fix that problem. We did find one but not a a jewelry shop but at a jewelry repair shop. It took three folks giving us directions but we got there! The next was a toothpick holder that I could carry in my pocket. This proved to be harder to find and as we got deeper and deeper into the Bazar the air got stale and smoky. It seemed that every other shop person was smoking and in the center of the Bazar there was little ventilation. After our eyes started watering we headed back out. It was a chilly day in Istanbul but we walked back to our place anyway. On the way we passed a Jewelry Supply place where I found a small plastic box to use as my toothpick holder. Success!
On a cold and rainy 4th of December Leslie and I had to get our shaggy mops cut.
Leslie had to return to blonde as the blue hair was no longer cutting it
While Leslie was in the Kitchen I felt this 5.1 earthquake also on the 4th
A big cruise ship sailing out
Soon after the earthquake this Turkish Navy ship sailed by in full foggy stealth mode
The fifth of December finds us back out to the streets
But first we have to go past this Mosque
Cats blending in
The Bazar at last
On and on it goes
First right then left then right then left
Hpow the roof is not brown from the smoke amazes us
Jackets, knick-knacks, t-shirts, backpacks, wallets and dresses in five stalls
Many iron braces to keep the walls up in an earthquake
Pottery cats
Busy busy busy
Heading back out past another mosque. When I heard that there were 3000 mosques in Istanbul I thought that number was too high. Now I think it is an underestimate
The oldest Constantinian monument to survive from old Istanbul. It was built int 328 CE and stood in the center of the forum of Constantine
The Ottomans added the iron hoops to reinforce it in 1515. It sits on the second highest of the seven hills of Constantinople
Gold face mail on the mannequins
Creepy ears and lips for jewelry display or for piercing practice perhaps
Who know hands could be so expressive
Different colors and poses, so expressive
Hot lunch on a chilly day
Big fence on the compound with the Iranian flags
I had the best Hot and Sour Soup that I have had in ages
Tasty cold spinach with sesame oil, a hot lamb dish and chicken soup
Looks a bit Turkish
Stylish
We do not need any information on these procedures
Persimmons and oranges
The gate to our place
Not a railing that is a safety feature
The masked man!
Our last night is shaping up for another great sunset
Seagulls cooperating
Good night Istanbul
