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Breakfast was nice. Buffet style. Now a 4 hour drive back to Istanbul and I must say, it's all good with me. I'm so exahusted, I don't mind riding on a bus, as long as I am sitting down.
We drove along the countryside fileld with breathtaking views along the Marmara Sea.
Lunch was at Sehzade Restaurant. By this time, I was so hungry, I started in on the bread and hummus. The salads are awful. The dressing is bitter.
Two more hours and we're in Istanbul. Everyone was kinda salty because of all the unecessary stops we made today. Most of us really wanted to shop. I didn't fuss though.
We finally made our way to the "Grand Bazaar." I know I was pretty excited. I just wanted to see what great finds I could find.
We only had 2 hours, then the bazaar would close and we had to get to dinner.
The place was amazing. Hustling and bustling.
The Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı) in Istanbul is one of the largest covered markets in the world with 60 streets and 5,000 shops, and attracts between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily. It is well known for its jewellery, hand-painted ceramics, carpets, embroideries, spices and antique shops. Many of the stalls in the bazaar are grouped by type of goods, with special areas for leather, gold jewellery and the like. The bazaar has been an important trading centre since 1461 and its labyrinthine vaults feature two bedestens (domed buildings), the first of which was constructed between 1455 and 1461 by the order of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror. The bazaar was vastly enlarged in the 16th century, during the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, and in 1894 underwent a major restoration following an earthquake.
The complex houses two mosques, four fountains, two hamams, and several cafés and restaurants. In the centre is the high domed hall of the Cevahir Bedesten, where the most valuable items and antiques were to be found in the past, and still are today, including furniture, copperware, amber prayer beads, inlaid weapons, icons, moth
er-of-pearl mirrors, water pipes, watches and clocks, candlesticks, old coins, and silver and gold jewellery set with coral and turquoise. A leisurely afternoon spent exploring the bazaar, sitting in one of the cafés and watching the crowds pass by, and bargaining for purchases is one of the best ways to recapture the romantic atmosphere of old Istanbul.
Gates:
The Grand Bazaar has four main gates situated at the ends of its two major streets which intersect near the southwestern corner of the bazaar.
Opening Times:
Monday to Saturday 9:00 - 19:00. Closed Sundays and bank holidays.
The Grand Bazaar is around 15 minutes walk from the Aya Sofya/Blue Mosque area.
Once we exited for the evening, we were greeted by Berna's daughter.
We were then wisked on to the restaurant Vonali Selal. There was another tour group there. Can't remember if they were Brits or Canadians. One guy was toasted and repeatedly visited our tables. He then wanted us to sing Happy Birthday to someone in their group. He was DRUNK. I think someone wanted him to sit down, other than us.
Again, the food was not that great and I was really missing that okra I had earlier in the tour.
I was happy to be back at the Grand Hyatt. I like this hotel.
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