Saturday we visit the Grand Bazaar, a huge labyrinth of stalls selling everything you can think of and then more. We were expecting very pushy salespeople, but not so, although it's crowed with locals and tourists.
This postcard shows it well
At 3pm we find our guide for an Urban Adventures street food tour (thanks Jess).
There's freshly cooked mackerel roll from a very busy boat
Just-squeezed orange and pomegranate juice
Fried and syrup-soaked doughnuts
Spices to sniff
Sunday it rains again so Ian heads for a boat tour and sightseeing, while Kay goes SHOPPING - well we are staying on istanbul's most reknowned 1 1/2km shopping street :-)
It's the little things to notice, such as the doorman handing out umbrella-shaped bage to stop the drips. The old renovated alleys in between modern stores (most of which are built inside whole block buildings)
Alleys with fish, fruit and spice stalls in the middle of everything.
Look at those APPLES!!
And of course ships selling Turkish delight, helva and these little nut-filled morsels.
The streets are crowded with people, chestnut and corn roasters and trams clanging their way through the lot - usually with a couple of kids hanging off the back.
Last time here we hightailed it back to the hotel when seeing the riot police, now we know they're a standard fixture. Demonstrations were banned for 30 years, but small ones now happen regularly, with an enormous one several years ago. The government can't keep up with social media, so seems wait ready, in this tradition rallying point - Taxsim Square. Scary. But safe. There are 10s of 1000s of refugees pouring in, and increasing unrest about the government. Sound familiar?
And to finish with a smile, some of my purchases :-)
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