From Taksim Square to the Spice Bazaar

We have all heard about Taksim Square. It's the place Turkish citizens living in Istanbul love to demonstrate their feelings, most recently about the tragic mine disaster in Soma. Luckily for us there were no such gatherings on the day, so after a quick look around the square, we were off down Istiklal Avenue on our quest for bargains. 

Istiklal Avenue is one of the longest retail shopping strips in the world and there is nothing you can't buy there. Even on a wet Friday afternoon it was packed with people, all on their way to somewhere, some still searching for a bargain (D1), others with bags full of goodies.

 

           The avenue is alive with all sorts of people, some to entertain, and others trying to sell you something.

There seems to be no age barrier when it comes to busking for a Lire.

Istiklal Avenue is also famous for its old trams, and for those not up to walking, a small amount of change will get you a ride on a red rattler.

At the end of the strip is the also famous Galata Bridge, the crossing point between what is known as the Golden Horn ( the old part of Istanbul) and the new town. The bridge is a popular meeting place for many local fishermen who come here to try their luck and hopefully take home a bucketload of very small sardine-like fish.

This is also the place where locals and visitors come to buy fish sandwiches which are prepared on floating fast food boats.

Finally our journey comes to an end at the Spice Bazaar, a vast collection of vendors selling everything from rolling pins to fabulous aromatic ingredients from the four corners of the globe. As is often the case, there are many shops for the tourists who are here in large numbers, and there are other shops outside in the side streets where the prices are more reasonable and used mainly by the locals.

When we return it Istanbul in a few weeks from now, we will once again visit the Spice Bazaar on a quest for the best Turkish Delight, and explore the labyrinth which is the Grand Bazaar on our never ending search for a bargain.

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