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Turkish Delights

By Carl Fisher

December 29^th, 2019

Mosques a plenty

There was certainly no shortage of places to pray if you were muslim and it was hard to forget when you should be doing it due to the prevalence of speakers that blasted the call to prayer on a strict schedule. The other things you'll find in great numbers are cats, which the locals treat quite well, leaving them food and ensuring they have shelter.

Feeling Blue

The Blue Mosque is supposed to be a highlight of any trip to Istanbul. It was impressive from the outside, but rather disappointing on the interior. As with quite a few places throughout the city, the Mosque was undergoing extensive renovations, which meant that the entire central dome was blocked from view by netting. Most disappointing. The peripheral spaces were uncovered, but that was small consolation. To see the results of this labour is just another reason to pay this city another visit.

Shopify

In and around the Grand Bazaar you can find almost any local craft, sweet, trinket that you could dream of. And if you like to haggle, which I don't, you are indeed in heaven. The choices and the passages are so extensive, it's quite easy to get disoriented. You may find yourself challenged to relocate that place you thought had the best selection/prices for whatever it is that you were determined to take home.

Bargain Hunter

Even once you managed to escape the pull of the Grand Bazaar, there are plenty of other shops in the old part of the city that are more than willing to help you part with your lira.

Tower Power

The Galata tower was only a few blocks from where I was staying, so it's not surprising that it features prominently here. As you would suspect from it's prominent location, the views are fantastic (you'll have to wait for my next post for these) and, if you don't get there by around 10 in the morning, be prepared for a long wait to get to the top.

Grittitude

As with any large city, street art can be readily found if one wanders in the right direction and is willing to venture down darkened side streets (although that's not always necessary).