If I suddenly become a missing person at the end of this trip, look in Turkey!

I had no idea what to expect in Turkey, but to say that my expectations were exceeded would be an understatement. ISTANBUL IS INCREDIBLE! I would have needed at least another few weeks to taste the hundreds of spices at the Spice Market, stop at every store in the Grand Bazaar, visit every Mosque, feed the birds…experience everything I wanted to experience, ahhh! I love love love it!

In Istanbul, I did lots of sightseeing. Upon arrival, we headed to the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and Istanbul’s underground Cisternes. The mosques were nothing less than an architectural phenomenon; with huge domed ceilings covered in exquisite murals, mosaics and marble paneling; they were spectacular. Istanbul’s Underground Cisternes make up an underground water system that was constructed in Turkey hundreds of years ago. Although it sounded incredibly uninteresting to me beforehand, it ended up being fascinating. Hopefully, I’ll be able to post pictures soon!

Although I have an immense appreciation for the historical buildings here, it was not until I entered the Grand Bazaar and Spice Market that I fell in love with Istanbul. The Grand Bazaar is home to several thousand shops. Here you can find a variety of scarves, fabulous and funky jewelry, all kinds of elaborate home décor (I’m sure you’ve all heard of Turkish rugs), belly dancing costumes, water pipes.. and everything else TURKEY. In the Spice Market, be prepared to sample Turkish Delight, Baklava, Apple Tea, and hundreds, maybe thousands of other teas coffees, spices and desserts. Although looking, tasting and smelling all the goodies is fun in itself, the best part of the whole experience is the game of haggling.

Haggling in Turkey usually goes like so:

1. Turkish man catches you looking at (for example) an embroidered pair of boots that are TO DIE for….

2. “Shoot!” he caught me… you think to yourself. “Lady, lady, I make good price for you. You like?” the man urges.

3. “Yes, they’re beautiful,” you say.. “How much?”

4. He replies “You see, these boots are handmade, good quality.. Would you like some apple tea?”

5. Your reply is, “ I would love some, thank you.. but how much did you say the boots were?”

6. “ahh yes, yes,” he replies 400 lyra,” which is approximately 350-ish US dollars.

7. “400 lyra! You proceed to tell him, he’ s out of his mind and you tell him you want them for half that. He then tells you that you are the crazy one.

8. “I’ll just have to find them somewhere else, “ you say sadly..

9. “No, lady sit sit.. Drink some Turkish coffee.”

10. As you drink your Turkish coffee AFTER your apple tea, you go back and forth with the man, taking turns begging each other for a deal. “You won’t do 200 lyra? Not even for meeeeee?”

11. Finally, he’s sweating and gets down to 215 lyra. You finish your Turkish coffee and tell him that 215 lyra is sounding better, but that 215 lyra is all you have and that you will have to starve for the next two days without those few extra lyra.

12. After much pain and caffeine, he agrees on 200 lyra and you’ve got yourself a pair of Turkish boots. Job well done!

13. Now walk to the Spice Market.. and REPEAT…