From the sky, Istanbul looks massive. There are apartment blocks after apartment block, and the entire vista is covered in buildings and parks. In the taxi on the way to the Sultanahmet – old city, we ask the cab driver what the population is, his answer – 25 million. Apparently according to wiki, its between 12 – 25 million (not to disbelieve the cab driver), and the answer being so varied from person to person (this coming from another local on the topic of population) etc because the last complete census was completed in the 30’s. But the only thing we do know for a fact is that this wonderfully historic city steeped in history, will take more than this visit to conquer.
The next day we head to the Grand Bizarre. Trading since 1461, the bizarre is spread out in a maze of close to 5000 shops. Selling everything from traditional wares of carpets, pottery, and glassware, to clothing, jewellery, antiques and more, all seeming to work in harmony day after day.
We head there early-ish, to beat the crowds that come everyday to wander, haggle and buy, and stop intermittently for coffee and baklava (as you know ladies, this is the only and proper way of trying to spend any great amount of time shopping/looking). Turkey being the home of baklava, I have taken it upon myself to make sure its up to scratch(not having done much research during my first two weeks here for obvious reasons).
Having lived in a strong Turkish community in the Hackney borough for most of the time we lived in London, ive had my fair share of baklava (but none seemed to ever even come close to the first baklava place on the right hand side past Nandos restaurant on Kingsland high street…its worth a visit Londoners!), so I feel I have the experience to succeed in my challenge.
After the so-so baklava and the new burst of energy it brings, we end up walking out and down toward the Galata tower. It’s a popular point for seeing the city from a 360C view, and even boasts to having a slightly dodgy looking nightclub on its top floor – no sorry, im a club snob – we didn’t. More walking, and back over the bridge to the Egyptian market, which is full of spices, food, and people (by this stage). A quick exit back to the room for a rest before finding a local place for savory traditional pancakes, and some more baklava.
The next day we started at the Blue Mosque admiring its ornate domes, before heading to the only museum of the day which used to be a church, before being turned into a mosque – Haghia Sophia, giving me the biggest WOW for the day. Straight around the corner after that the Yerebatan Cistern and its amazing pillars of light, and a Medusa head or two for decoration.
This is one of the most beautiful cities full of so much history and architecture, that a single short trip could not really do it justice. I think its such a place that you would want to return again and again – I certainly do. And about the baklava…well I did find a place that was “close”, but I guess ill have to be patient and wait for the visits from Londoners flying via Kingsland High Street, direct to N.Z – HINT HINT!
WheresRu 