We went to the Grand Bazaar and wandered around for a couple of hours. It’s an enormously busy place, chock full of people desperately trying to part you from your money. We were accosted many, many times but sadly no one wanted to marry any one of us. They just wanted our money.
We walked through the Bazaar and out at the bottom end and then down, down, down through a maze of twisty, turny cobbled streets until we reached the Spice Bazaar at the bottom by the sea. The Spice Bazaar was even busier than the Grand Bazaar! It’s an amazing place with huge mounds of spices, dried fruit and vegetables, teas, sweets and meats. It smells fabulous!!
We made our way back up to the Grand Bazaar. It’s quite a long and very steep walk but totally fascinating. The shops on either side sell amazing things like over the top bed linen, ladies lingerie (very glam indeed), fabrics and ribbon, machines for making dolmades, shoes, bags, kiddie clothes, a lot of Disney, Prada, Vuitton, etc knock offs.
When we got back to the top we walked through the Grand Bazaar until we found the correct exit gate. Then we went back to the hotel for a little rest and later we ventured forth to the Haija Sophia. Another amazing building. It is huge! It was first built in the 6th century as a Christian church then in the 15th century it was converted to a mosque. It has decoration from both religions and is a most fascinating building. It was turned into a museum in 1934.
The weather became very cold and windy so we walked back to the hotel to put on a few more layers before going out for tea. Another great day and our feet are holding up well.
PS Thanks to everyone who has made a comment. Although we can't use the blog here in Turkey we do get emailed your comments so keep them coming in.
Maz, Andi and Marj
Hi all,
ReplyDeleteI'm sooo glad you are enjoying Turkey. The market sounds great. Love a good market.
Leavey news-
We went to Mornington yesterday (Sunday) to visit Mezz who is staying there for a few days. It was a beautiful day and he beach was glorious.
Ella wrote a story about Rupunzel.
We booked a face-painter for Ella's birthday party.
Callum has an appointment with his thumb doctor on Wednesday.
Richmond was slaughtered by Collingwood (70 points), but Melbourne won against the Gold Coast ( I think by heaps)
Think that is all....?
Love to you all. Caroline xx
Good to hear a bit more news from Turkey as I am keen to know how you like it. Ted and I think it was the most fascinating place we have ever visited although we were there for 3 months. Now to the footy scores, Demons beat the Gold Coast by 90 points and are now 7th on ladder. Poor old Tigers lost to the Pies by 71 points. Hawks beat West Coast by 7 points and another draw by Carlton and Essendon. Looking forward to your next comments. Love Eunice
ReplyDeleteWow! Turkey sounds amazing!! Though all those Prada and Vuitton take-offs would be very, very tempting!... hmmmm...maybe a trip to Turkey is in order - for the cultural sights, of course!!! And all those people! Totally different to here.
ReplyDeleteThe skies are clear and blue here - it is a beautiful autumn day. You know the type: clear sunny sky, cold breeze, but so warm out out of the wind.
I've made the sunroom my impromptu study - which is wonderful as I can spread my papers across a space that is almost as big as the entire downstairs of my townhouse! The view from the picture window is lovely and very peaceful - a typical Aussie country setting, really.
There are huge water tanks to the right in the foreground, in the mid back there is a line of eucalypts and cyprus under which is a woodpile stacked high with logs cut from local felled trees, and to the left are the tractor sheds and the chook pens (empty of chooks at the moment because they are out running around the paddocks having fun scouring for bugs and whatever else they can find! I do feed them - I promise! But they still love to get out and find their own delicacies...).
In the background - well that just seems to go forever... a vista of green paddocks intersected with lines of ancient cyprus trees and solitary tall eucalypts, the occasional rise in the ground indicating a dam, and small moving clumps of dirty grey as the sheep move from one section of grass to another. Really quite blissful.
Don't tell my sister, but both the farm cats are curled up inside, and the dog is lying in the sun at my feet. I know. These are working animals - they're used to being outside... but they are just too cute and cuddly! (Though I must say, I am a little concerned because the chooks have started to stand at the back door looking rather expectant! If I let them in do you think I could get them to lay straight into the egg cartons?)
Anyway, I am sure I have bored you to tears with my diatribe... but, believe me, hearing about the view is sooooooo much more interesting than hearing about how the PhD write-up is going!
Stay safe, my lovelies, and have a fantastic time. I look forward to reading about the next adventures of our intrepid explorers... till then, take care.
Love Leis x
I have just caught up with your news - what busy gals you are. Marj, you are a legend keeping up this pace!
ReplyDeleteYour trips around London brought back a few memories Andi. Do you remember answering a questionaire outside Covent Garden Market about the cleanliness of London streets? I still have the fuschia earrings I bought there too.
Turkey sounds exotic and exciting. Are you drinking lots of tea?
It is school hols here which Sean and I kicked off with a caving weekend with Scouts and do I have the butt bruises to prove it! Thankfully we avoided the leeches. It really was great fun though.
We have had the usual revolving door of kids visiting and staying over coupled with Erin's passion for shopping (with my credit card) and driving (look out everyone). Deano joined us for dinner on Saturday night also which was lovely.
This week I am home to tackle a few of those 'roundtuits' - boring paperwork mostly. Looking forward to heading off to sunny Anglesea for Easter. You'll be pleased to know that Dean is working together beautifully with Iain to plan something scrumptious for Sunday dinner. Leis and I will have to pull out all stops to compete!
Can't wait to hear more about your travels once the 'embargo' is lifted.
Lots of Love
Sue, Erin and Sean XXX