A Quick trip to the Grand Bazaar . . .and Beyond

Noone should miss a trip to Istanbul's Grand Bazaar. So, in spite of the fact that we had recently visited all kinds of markets in 5 asian countries, we decided to go. The Grand Bazaar, described as "a remarkable roofed warren of shops - with Byzantine Foundations and an Ottoman floor plan,"  houses over 4000 shops.  Many carry high end merchandise attractive to both tourists and international traders. We entered by the front door, spent about a half hour wandering through a small fraction of the passageways, and emerged into another market area, in which we were the only foreigners in sight.  I only wish I had taken more pictures in this setting.

 

Much of the bazaar contains expensive retail merchandise in an attractive setting.

Please note that one or two shopkeepers are in front of each shop trying to lure folks in.

Typically, they offer a delicious cup of Turkish tea and  free travel advice.

Beautiful gold jewelry, like these bracelets, dazzles you from many directions.

 Here, Irene is looking into a narrower side passageway.

Fancy porcelain awaits.

  

This old Singer sewing machine is the same model my grandmother used in the 1940s and 1950s.

It was in the window of a shop selling made-to-order lingerie.

I can only speculate why the sneakers are there.

Music had its place, too.

Many shops had spectacular lighting displays.

Little porcelain souvenir boxes

These are the bowls of two tobacco pipes. 

 The one on the left is made of meerschaum. 

The one on the right looks like wood.

Out the back door, down the street, and around the corner a far different market awaits.

The waitress on the window sill doesn't think much of the knight in shining armor.

Hookahs

Clothes for a variety of purposes

A Gatsbyesque painting

Mannequins

or whatever body part you want to buy

As I said earlier, this was one of the rare times I wish I had taken more pictures!