Haghia Sophia - Church - Mosque - Museum
Apart from visiting mosques, we did a little bit of shopping. We visited the Grand Bazaar and the Egyptian Bazaar, aka Spice Market, and even did rug shopping! If you enjoy haggling and negotiating prices, this is the place for you. Anything you can think of, you can probably buy at one of these markets. It was good fun, but I’m pretty sure us, tourists, get ripped off!! No way people will pay $40 bucks for two small ½ bag of spices! And I bought a fake watch for the looks, of course, thinking it would probably fade or break, but never thought that it wouldn’t tell the correct time!! Haha…Serves me right for paying $15 for a Chanel Watch! Walking up and down the shops was a bit dizzing. I even had to use one of these toilets there! Go Nary!
Yah...good thing I had a dress on! You gotta go, when you gotta go!
Spice overload - but the cook in me loves them! Wish I had easy access to one over here.
Last think to talk about in Istanbul was my Turkish Bath. I really didn’t know what to expect with a Turkish bath and boy was I in for a treat. I arrived at the Hamam, paid and was pointed to the locker room. When I got into the locker room, a lady pointed me upstairs, another gave me some bottoms and a towel, and after I changed, another lady took my arm and started calling me a baby! Haha. Upon entering the hamam, I was greeted by boobs of all shapes and sizes and was told to lay on the stone circle. The dome of the hamam had holes in it to let the sunlight in, so I just stared at that for a while as I was trying to figure out what was going to happen next. After about 20 minutes, I was startled by a tub of water being thrown on me and a topless Turkish woman scrubbing away. We tried to communicate with each other, but it just wasn’t working. All I know is that while she was scrubbing me, she was probably imagining me to be her daughter or something because I kept hearing, “baby, baby," and seeing smiles. Haha. Anyhow, it wasn't the cleanest bath, as you're sharing the stone with 20 other women, who have been walking the streets of Istanbul. I'm sure some of their dead skin got in my bathing area, but whatever; my skin was smoother afterwards...hehe. Don’t think I’d ever do it again unless it was free but it was definitely an experience. I'd recommend it for anyone traveling to Turkey.
We ate very well in Istanbul and drank with caution, as drinking there was expensive. They sure do know hot to get the tourist. We had a great tour guide, who invited us back to stay with him next time so that was nice. I’d do it for the food for sure!
Well, that concludes our travels for a few months. The next couple of months will be spent in Aberdeen, or exploring Scotland. It will be nice to actually “live” in Aberdeen for a bit…hehe.
Cheers!
