Istanbul [3] (60 minutes)
Some sites on the tourist trail, but mostly those which definitely are not.
Bazaars and Shopping (40 minutes)
Visit the Spice Bazaar and the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, and the crowded streets in between. (Available as an add-on to ‘There be Dragons’)
Hagia Sofia. This is our preferred spelling (Greek Hagia = Saint (female)) - definitely not 'Aya' which misreads the Greek, Sofia (goddess of wisdom)
Apse Mosaic, Hagia Sofia. Considered the oldest art in the building.
Medusa Head in the Yerebatan (Underground) Cistern
Remains of the Million. All distances in the eastern Roman empire were measured from here.
Shop in the Çemberlitaş Hamam
Market stall in the Çarşamba (Wednesday) market in Fatih district.
Interior, St.George's Church. Seat of the Patriarch of the 'Greek' Orthodox Church (not to be confused with the Russian, Serbian, Bulgarian, Ukranian or even Turkish Orthodox versions)
Boys dress up for sunnet (circumcision), visiting the Eyüp Mosque
'Devotion'. At the Eyüp Mosque
Pier Lotti's cabin. Now a cafe reached by a cable car
Miniatürk model of the Artemesium in Ephesus. Nice to see it complete, as there are only a couple of column drums in a swamp at the original site.
Miniatürk model of Haydarpaşa Station. The original is the principal rail terminus on the Asian shore (now under restoration)
In the evening, come for a mackerel half-bread sandwich by the shore in Eminönü
The Spice (or Egyptian) Bazaar. Fish market gate.
Sacks of henna in the Spice Bazaar. A shop would sell the contents of one sack in about a week, and there are many shops with the same sacks.
Charcuterie in the Spice Bazaar
Dried Fruit in the Spice Bazaar
Ayran is a drink of diluted yogurt with some salt. Very refreshing in hot weather. 'Closed' ayran comes in a bottle or capped cup. This is 'open' ayran from a jug - in this case given a frothy head.
Goods are moved around the market by the Hamal (porters)
Selling direct. Tül = tuille. Perde = curtains
'Waiting for Cinderella'. A street scene
The main street in the Grand Bazaar is named for the felt-cap makers, but it is full of jewellers
'Refreshment Point'. The Grand Bazaar is run extensively on tea.
There is a lot of low quality merchandise in the Grand Bazaar, but this is the highest quality ceramic art by Ismail Yiğit. Expect to pay several hundred pounds for any piece like this.