visit Istanbul and not to visit Grand-Bazar would be a large mistake therefore if you appeared in this city and at your disposal there are several hours of free time, by all means take the taxi and come here. Even in case you are not going to buy something, this place unambiguously deserves visit not only as the large market, but also as a historical and cultural sight.
The history Grand-Bazara has roots in the past. Once, at the time of the Ottoman Empire there was classical here east market where the most various goods from all East were flown down. Here sold silks from China, ivory from Africa, gold and semi-precious stones from India and a set of other refined and demanded goods. Sold here and spices, spices, aromas from Arabia – all that was historically appreciated often worth its weight in gold.
Today Grand-Bazar changed the concept – generally it is designed for the tourist. The prices, it is necessary to tell, here too absolutely inhumane, focused on the western consumer, and attempts to bargain will hardly result in visible results that considerably distinguishes Grand-Bazar from other east markets. If the goods are not bought by one buyer, it will be surely got by the second or third – sellers got used to it long ago, and practically do not fight for the client. Tourists great variety plies here, and demand for goods happens always. However, things of various price categories are presented here, and it is simply impossible to leave without purchase from here.
Grand-Bazar attracts to itself including with the architecture. Like many other large markets of the East, it is located under a roof over which in some places round stone domes are located. The main entrance is locked by massive gate with a heavy ring, and along malls there are real streets. It makes sense to come here early in the morning while flows of visitors did not captivate ranks. Here it is always possible to find what to look at and what to ask the price of.
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It is obvious that rent of outlet under a roof – pleasure not from cheap therefore also the prices for buyers are strongly overstated here. Anyway, here it is possible to look after and choose the real Turkish shawls, stamping ware, coffee pots, jewelry, beads and, of course, the well-known Turkish fezs of scarlet color. Once such headdress was carried by each Turk, however during Ataturk's reforms the fezs were abolished. Nevertheless, today they are the main souvenir which can be brought home from Turkey.
Women for certain will like the carved caskets decorated with nacre pieces. Except them, here scarfs, embroideries, a beads, bracelets and earrings – all in especially national style are on sale much. Men will estimate cold weapon for which Turkey once was famous – there are both modern decorative hand-made articles, and ancient, antique items. Whether it is worth saying once again that prices of the last category are quite high!
Also in Istanbul you can admire the well-known Bosphorus strait
But even in case you already bought all necessary, on Gran-Bazaru it is simply pleasant to wander, having presented itself in ancient east city. Here and there assistants to sellers scurry about, messengers offer you tea or coffee which spill in traditional small glasses of a special form, people bargain, estimate goods, choose. Still, as well as hundred or two hundred years ago. Decided to have a bite? No problem! Directly at an entrance, in the small square the set of outlets where fry kebab and other east dishes is broken. Cost is quite modest, and here it is possible cheap and to have dinner with appetite.
If you do not need elaborate and expensive things, then it is possible to pass the room under domes and to leave to one of very narrow lanes where continue to conduct malls. Here, under the open sky, more necessary in life and in everyday life sell objects. Here it is possible to find clothes and footwear, kitchen accessories, small appliances and much, many other. In fact, majestic Gran-Bazar develops into the real flea market. Nevertheless, there quite really to find the necessary and useful things at acceptable cost.
Owners of successful trade enterprises offer the goods not on the street, and in premises of small little shops that are molded to walls of neighboring houses. Here it is possible to choose bags, umbrellas, jackets, boots and everything that you want. Also electronics – phones, receivers, and other similar things is on sale here.
These improvised malls last on abruptly going down small streets. Right at the end it is possible to observe absolutely wild trade – the sellers who settled down directly on the earth offer small souvenirs, sets of ware and other small things from hands. By the way, here it is possible to buy excellent jeans from the unknown producer, having spent for them an equivalent of five-six euros in local currency. It will be possible to carry them long time, without worrying for quality.
There is also no end of Gran-Bazaru kind of at all. Going down to the embankment narrow streets, it does not come to an end, and develops into the Egyptian market – other historical place of trade in ancient Istanbul. Once the ships from other countries – including, and from Egypt stuck to moorings of the embankment. Here sell goods of other character – rare spices, folk remedies, aromatic oils and, of course, the well-known oriental sweets.
Walk on Gran-Bazaru and adjacent quarters is capable to take three-four hours. It – without the fact that you really need to buy something. Anyway, in the main building of a market it is possible to find many interesting places having for photography. Here both mosaics, and small fountainlets, and, of course, picturesque public – sellers and delivery boys of tea. Many goods would also be interesting to be shot with that on arrival home once again to see the gifts and souvenirs from Turkey exposed along malls. Everything cannot be bought here so by all means seize the opportunity to take away with themselves photos for memory!
Other interesting markets: Al-Hamidiye's (Syria) bough