A Taste of Istanbul

As well as seeing the major sights, we spent time time wandering through residential neighbourhoods and commercial sections with narrow streets lined with small shops. This is where we bought some of our souvenirs like tea and dried fruit since we were away from the tourist areas and prices were cheap.

Istanbul straddles 2 continents - most of the sights for tourists are on the European side but a walk across the bridge over the Bosphorus will take you into Asia and the more business type districts.

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The rooms are old but clean with a double bed and (small) private bathroom. There is an old fashioned elevator (don't worry, it works fine) and a TV and sitting area in the lounge. Breakfast is included in the price and is served on the rooftop balcony which provides great views of the Sultanahmet district.

Breakfast is substantial - hard boiled eggs, feta cheese, freshly baked bread and jams, tomatoes, olives, cucumber, coffee, tea or hot chocolate. There is a full bar upstairs and the street level restaurant is moderately priced and offers a wide selection of Turkish dishes. Staff are friendly and you can get bus pick-up to the airport from the hotel.

The Treasury was crowded when we were there and it's no wonder, considering the items on display. Some were gifts, some were spoils of war and some were purchases made throughout the centuries but all were MAGNIFICENT!

There was so much gold and ornate detail and many of the jewels were so large that it was hard to believe they were real, but real they were and everything was behind glass cases to ensure security.

After viewing golden thrones, chairs and cradles, pearl encrusted Koran covers, daggers and swords covered in gems and enough jewellery to buy and sell a number of small countries, we wiped the drool from our chin and continued to explore the Palace.

Inside The Chambers of the Sacred Relics are treasures that Muslims consider more precious than jewels. It is here that items pertaining to the prophet Mohammud are on display, including several hairs from his beard and soil from his grave.

We wanted to visit the Harem but you have to pay a separate fee to join a tour which only runs certain times of the day. Unfortunately, we'd missed the last tour so I'd recommend booking this in advance if it's something you want to see.

Topkapi is open from 9:30 to 5:00 daily, except Tuesday. Admission was 500,000 Turkish lira.

After our visit to the Place, we wandered through nearby Gulhane Park where a fair was taking place. Turkish music was playing over loudspeakers and there were stalls selling kabobs, candy and drinks (non alcoholic, of course). It was a busy place with lots of Turkish families enjoying the park.

Other than Kusadasi, the salespeople here were some of the most persistent we met but most were fine with a firm "no thanks".

The architecture of the Bazaar is really interesting - the outside reminded me of a mosque, without the minarets. Inside, some of the sections in the middle were built in the 15th century and the colors and designs on the walls and ceilings were breathtaking.

As well as stores, there are a number of restaurants and small stands where you can get a snack or a cup of tea (chai) and if you're lucky enough to find an empty table, you can rest up for your visit to the next section of shops.

It's easy to get lost in the Bazaar and we never managed to go out the same door we'd gone in but that just helped us to explore the areas around the Bazaar.

As well as the shops inside, enterprising vendors set up stalls or tables outside and sell everything from leather to housewares. Although prices were cheaper than inside, we still found it more expensive than the Spice Bazaar or other, less touristed areas of Istanbul.

Within easy walking distance of the Bazaar, you'll find Istanbul University and Beyazit Camii, the oldest standing mosque in Istanbul.

The Grand Bazaar is about 15 minutes on foot from many of the major sights like the Blue Mosque and Ayasofya. A tram line runs nearby so it's easy to get to and from most points in Istanbul.

As with a visit to any mosque, you must remove your shoes (they'll give you a plastic bag to put them in)and shorts and short skirts are frowned upon. For those who come to pray, there are areas outside where you wash your feet before entering the mosque.

The inside is a large, open area and you realize just how huge this place is. There are no statues since the Muslim faith forbids worship of images. The walls and ceilings are covered with blue tiles and the floors are covered with rich carpets. Numerous stained glass windows let in light and are supplemented with large circular light fixtures that are suspended from the ceiling. Metal rods run along the ceiling to protect the structure in the event of an earthquake but they are placed so that they almost blend into the overall design.

Sitting on our hotel balcony one Friday afternoon, we were amazed to see armored vans and police in riot gear drive into the area near the mosque. Nothing came of it and we were told later it had just been a precautionary measure since Friday can be a volatile day at the mosques. Supposedly, there had been skirmishes with police in the past but we didn't see or hear of any problems during our stay in Istanbul.

Cost to visit the mosque was 500,000 Turkish lira and it is closed during prayer times.