Shopping in the Istanbul

Today was a very busy day full of touring! We first went to the Blue Mosque. The women are required to wear clothes past their knees and covering their shoulders. If you don't pass inspection, they give you blue shawls to cover yourself. I had to have the full get-up because apparently they don't accept cap-sleeves. Here is a picture:



This is a picture of a picture off my regular camera, so it's not very good quality. I'm being a little scandalous by showing some leg. Ha ha

Next we went to the Cisterns. They're underground waterways the ancients built. James Bond has a scene in one of these so I was really excited (points go to someone who can name which movie). I definitely took a James Bond picture. It was really cool, both in awesomeness and coldness. They also played creepy music, which added to the ambiance.

Next we went to the Topkapi Palace. This was sorta cool, it wasn't very glam like I imagined a palace to be, but probably because all of the gold was stollen in the crusades or something. They did claim to have the staff of Moses though, but I didn't get to get a good look at it because it was on display next to Mohammed's stuff. Turkey is 98% Muslim, so that was a popular spot. I don't really believe that it was Moses' actual staff... Sorry for being an unbeliever. They did have this 85 carat diamond from the Ottoman times that looked pretty real. I thought the diamond was neat.

Next we went to this rug museum. Lots of old rugs hung up and some Korans. It was air-conditioned.

Next we went to this rug business. They gave us the ins-ands-outs of rug making. I even got to tie a knot during the live demonstration! I felt very special, the handy work they do is amazing! Mom- I'm so sad I didnt have an international calling plan because they would have sold us a huge rug (like the one to put in a living room) for a 1,000 dollars! They offered us a screaming deal. I thought you would have liked it. I would have bought a cheaper one, but I didn't like any of the designs they offered.

Afterwards, we were set free. A group of us went shopping at the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Market. I did lots of shopping! I love how the Lira is priced so much cheaper than the dollar. The shop owners/Turks are really funny to deal with. At first I was really intimidated with how forward and pushy they are. But now that I am used to them it is really easy to talk to them and bargain prices. Ha ha some of them would come up to us, call us Angels, put their arm around us, and make us smell their spices. At first it was really hard to get away and make a point we weren't interested, but now it's easy. And they're really nice.

I am a little frustrated I can't read the street signs. I've never felt illiterate. We got a little lost trying to find the Spice Market. I'm also not very partial to Turkish food, it doesnt really settle in my stomach. I was going to chicken out for dinner at McDonalds but the group suggested I try this cheesy-pita pizza thing. It was delicious and I ate the whole thing.

Well, we have to get up at 4am tomorrow to catch a plane to Kusadasi (pronounced ku-sha-de-se). That should be fun.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Istanbul, Turkey