Istanbul Grand Bazaar

Saturday, March 22nd, 2014 Istanbul

 Last night we went to the Siva Cafe around the corner for dinner. Some kind of nan bread with olive oil, balsamic vinegar and a small dish of olives is always included to start.We ordered 2 different variations of some lamb stew thing which was very good.

 Some people order a stew cooked in a clay pot in the fire. Then the waiter brings it out all in flames and knocks the top off the clay pot with a big knife and pours out the stew onto your plate.

Our dinner included baklava with whipped cream and apple tea for each of us. Everywhere you see people drinking tea out of these little glasses. There are few styrofoam cups. People will stand outside a takeout place and drink a glass of tea or a salty yogurt drink and then hand the glass back. People walk around with trays delivering glasses of tea on the street. With a large beer, the total bill for dinner including tip was 66 lira ($33). We seem to be spending about that much for dinner every day.

 This morning we walked up to the Grand Bazaar, a huge old covered shopping mall with thousands of shops full of jewelry, leather goods, carpets, clothing, lamps, fabric and everything else. I've never seen so much stuff that I don't want. It was easy to get lost in there because it was so big. However, it was fairly orderly and the streets were wide and not too congested.
We found a take-out place just outside the Bazaar that was recommended in Lonely Planet. We bought a single "doner pide" which is shaved meat and spicy vegetables in a pita wrap, costing 13 lira ($6.50). Lonely Planet had it listed for 10 lira. They also say, in the very latest March 2013 edition, that the tram costs 2 lira when actually it costs 3. We have found this many times. When they publish their "latest edition", I think they just slap on a new cover but don't bother to update the research.

 The Blue Mosque from our hotel rooftop terrace.

 In the other direction, the Aya Sofia from the rooftop terrace.

 The starter for tonight's dinner, nan bread right out of the oven. It looks huge but it's totally hollow inside.

I'm not sure what we had but it was good. At this restaurant they give us Turkish Delight and tea for dessert. Again, about $30 total.

The Blue Mosque and the Aya Sofia from our hotel rooftop terrace at night. The only thing that gets old fast is the call to prayer 5 times per day, especially the one at 5 am. There are loudspeakers on the minarets of every mosque that blast out some imam calling the faithful to prayer. It only takes 10 or 15 minutes but that's just about enough when it's not our thing. But, I suppose when in Rome, I mean Istanbul......