Try some Turkish Delight...

Merhaba from the European side of Istanbul!

After my last post my new friend from Melbourne and I headed to the Spice Market, as a couple had told her good things about it. She admitted that she wasn't the best with directions, so I thought I'd give it a whirl with my map. Despite my *excellent* navigational skills in most other cities, I proved of little use in
getting us there quickly. The streets wind around (just like in some areas of Barcelona and Paris), and they are not clearly labeled...or labeled at all. We just guessed for the most part and she asked for directions, feeling much more comfortable and brave than I do.

At the Spice Market we smelled dry tea called "love tea" and it does smell lovely. The gentleman working on his sale tried to persuade us that it really does work...the smell alone is enough for me to want to buy it.

Speaking of "love", we also saw items at every stand labeled "Turish Viagra" which I had read about in a book. When I asked what was in it (meaning the ingredients) the man said with wide eyes "oh it is just a joke!", perhaps wondering if I was thinking
about buying some for someone...

Melbourne and I did buy a scarf each (yeah, at the spice market...) for covering our heads when we enter mosques. We should have waited until our trip to the Grand Bazaar, however. The Bazaar failed to impress with what I had read about it, but I stop at a shop I read about in my Rick Steeves travel book to purchase a few items. This store supplied many of the costumes for the 2004 film Troy and probably gets a lot of business because of it now. I talked a while with the owner's daughter while sipping Turkish coffee. Turkish coffee has the grounds in it and is quite different
than the coffee I am accustomed to. Again, I had read all about it so knew what to expect :-)

I had an overpriced lunch in the Grand Bazaar and now I'm back at the hostel to check in before heading about out...to who knows where, but this time without
Melbourne...wish me luck!

Written HOURS later...

I left the hostel, walked through some gardens, walked along the coast of the Golden Horn, and was walking in the Hippodrome (green space area where there used to be chariot races) when a 20-something male informed me I was in the Hippodrome...duh! I was going to walk on to the hostel to shower and go to bed, but for some reason I didn't...and thus began a 6-hour conversation, 2 apple teas, a trip to his family's carpet business, and one dinner later. They say some men fall fast here, and I witnessed it first hand, despite my belief that we were going to end the evening as simply friends. I think I left him disappointed that I did not return his feelings...but what was most interesting was a few assessments/observations he made on me in a few hours and about my thoughts on relationships...maybe I will share later or maybe the stories behind this story will stay with me :-)

Two nice Canadians just checked it, and it's time for me to go to bed...it's nearly midnight and I am running on empty!

Cheers <3