TRAVELLIVE 04-2016
Istanbul, the first days of spring… I’m warming myself in the sun on a café’s balcony in the Old Town. The sunbeams are as stunning as the fine strands of newly reeled silk. Meanwhile the old oak trees give their morning greeting to the glossy stone road as their red-brown leaves gently fall. The Old Town is still half-asleep, like a lazy girl who’s turned off her alarm after ringing the first time. Sunlight visits each street, dancing happily on passers-by’s shoulders, making the atmosphere more intimate to me – the traveler’s first time here. I feel more amorous in Istanbul. I’m enchanted by everything, from sweet lokum to the light sour ice-cream with ground ice on top, or from the gorgeous domes of hundreds of mosques and palaces to their uniquely designed windows, and from the discreet eyes of Muslim girls to the multitude of boards and posters with the images of Besiktas – the city’s legendary football team. I have fallen in love with Bosphorus Bay since the first time seeing the seagulls hovering in the open sky, creating invisible strings that connect the two continents – Asia and Europe. The clear blue sky is reflected on the deep blue sea, giving me tranquility. I drop my last Lira into the water of the Bosphorus, not to make a wish, but in hopes that they will preserve my memories here. And somehow, the water currents might bring them somewhere else to be found by me again, or might accidentally be stumbled upon by a boy who is playing with sand on a sunny beach. Tomorrow, I will go to Grand Bazzar, buy some postcards, and write something to leave beneath the sun near a mosque before sending them to some friends of mine. I do hope that these postcards, together with the coins, will inspire and attract more visitors to this land. Uhm… will you come there?
Istanbul, the first days of spring…
I’m warming myself in the sun on a café’s balcony in the Old Town. The sunbeams are as stunning as the fine strands of newly reeled silk. Meanwhile the old oak trees give their morning greeting to the glossy stone road as their red-brown leaves gently fall. The Old Town is still half-asleep, like a lazy girl who’s turned off her alarm after ringing the first time. Sunlight visits each street, dancing happily on passers-by’s shoulders, making the atmosphere more intimate to me – the traveler’s first time here.
I feel more amorous in Istanbul. I’m enchanted by everything, from sweet lokum to the light sour ice-cream with ground ice on top, or from the gorgeous domes of hundreds of mosques and palaces to their uniquely designed windows, and from the discreet eyes of Muslim girls to the multitude of boards and posters with the images of Besiktas – the city’s legendary football team.
I have fallen in love with Bosphorus Bay since the first time seeing the seagulls hovering in the open sky, creating invisible strings that connect the two continents – Asia and Europe. The clear blue sky is reflected on the deep blue sea, giving me tranquility. I drop my last Lira into the water of the Bosphorus, not to make a wish, but in hopes that they will preserve my memories here. And somehow, the water currents might bring them somewhere else to be found by me again, or might accidentally be stumbled upon by a boy who is playing with sand on a sunny beach.
Tomorrow, I will go to Grand Bazzar, buy some postcards, and write something to leave beneath the sun near a mosque before sending them to some friends of mine. I do hope that these postcards, together with the coins, will inspire and attract more visitors to this land. Uhm… will you come there?
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Istanbul is located on the<br />
Silk Road and commerce<br />
has developed for thousands<br />
of years into an art in<br />
itself. Most merchants<br />
in Turkey are male and<br />
very professional, but this<br />
is especially the case in<br />
Istanbul. After some small<br />
talk, they will invite you in<br />
for tea. They rarely give you<br />
a price for their wares but<br />
assert the quality of their<br />
goods first.<br />
weekend, the square is always<br />
full of people. You can find<br />
all styles from any wellknown<br />
brand. Apart from<br />
luxury products, you can buy<br />
high-quality Turkish textile<br />
goods at reasonable prices.<br />
This is also a popular place<br />
for locals to enjoy shopping<br />
on weekends and holidays.<br />
Besides Grand Bazaar and<br />
Taksim Square, you should<br />
visit the Spice Bazaar<br />
(Egyptian Market)<br />
Grand Bazaar<br />
The Grand Bazaar is the<br />
world’s oldest and largest<br />
market. It is home to more<br />
than 4000 stalls which<br />
attract 250,000 - 400,000<br />
guests each day. With 21<br />
gates on 60 streets, the<br />
Grand Bazaar is a labyrinth<br />
and a huge attraction<br />
for shoppers, especially<br />
those who love collecting<br />
decorations and handicrafts.<br />
You can find everything<br />
here, from luxurious brand<br />
names and premium goods<br />
to ordinary items like spices,<br />
dried fruits, confectioneries,<br />
decorative tiles, belly dance<br />
outfits, handmade rugs,<br />
jewelry, and you name it.<br />
Every product is colorful and<br />
attractive and every seller is<br />
friendly and professional.<br />
You’ll wish you had an entire<br />
lifetime and stores of money<br />
while wandering around this<br />
maze.<br />
Taksim - Fashion<br />
square<br />
Unlike the Grand Bazaar,<br />
Taksim Square specializes<br />
in clothes and accessories.<br />
In late afternoon or on the<br />
Travellive GUIDE<br />
What to buy in<br />
Istanbul:<br />
ü Souvenirs, traditional<br />
handicrafts, spices, dried<br />
fruit, and especially ceramics,<br />
carpets, felt coat, and leather<br />
jacket.<br />
ü Turkish Delight is a<br />
popular type of candy<br />
bought by visitors as a gift<br />
for family and friends.<br />
Shopping tips:<br />
ü Don’t try to bargain<br />
before considering product’s<br />
quality and comparing<br />
prices among different stalls.<br />
When you decide to buy<br />
something, start dealing at<br />
30% of the price offered by<br />
the seller.<br />
To buy carpets and<br />
ceramics<br />
ü Turkish carpets and<br />
ceramics are famous<br />
worldwide for their quality<br />
and sophisticated patterns.<br />
They are popularly sold<br />
in Istanbul and other<br />
tourist cities. However,<br />
their prices are different in<br />
different shops, depending<br />
on their size, quality, level<br />
of sophistication, and<br />
production time as well as<br />
your ability to bargain.<br />
ü A handmade carpet<br />
woven from silk yarn can<br />
take 2 women 2 years. A<br />
good quality carpet can cost<br />
from hundreds of dollars to<br />
thousands of dollars (with<br />
warranty and shipping).<br />
Ceramics share the same<br />
prices and sales regime.<br />
<strong>TRAVELLIVE</strong><br />
75
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