Grand Bazaar - Istanbul

The Grand Bazaar is really what Istanbul is all about. Istanbul is a business centre that joins east and west. It was the centre of the Silk Road and conduit for the Spice Trade.  Gold and silver and jewels flowed through here.  Today the Grand Bazaar is an open market with all manner of interesting treasures.  I bought a carpet at Anatolian carpets but enjoyed just walking about and looking at the leather work, art, mosaics, silks, fabrics, gold and silver, just about everything.
“The Mosaic from Istek are the best,” my guide Mehmet Tetik (www.turkishguides.org\tetik) explained. “You’ll see them in the Blue Mosque. Just a little one starts at $50 because so much goes into the making of them.”
“Caligraphy is very important in Turkey  so you’ll see some very fine art that is easily portable."
I enjoyed the bookstores even though they were mostly Turkish language.  Mehmet showed me modern art of Turkey and discussed the regions where crafts came from. He guides all over Turkey so told me of  which towns were famous for which products.
Much of the Bazaar looked like it may have been little different a thousand years ago. The place has that kind of atmosphere.
Outside we walked through a flea market.  Were it not for flying and the limits of baggage I might have come out of there with a whole lot of items. As it was I am happy with my carpet. One sale for a day is more than enough for me.
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Anatolian Carpets - Istanbul

I told my guide Mehmet Tetik (tetikm@superonline.com)  I was interested in carpets. I so enjoyed the carpet I brought back from Baku, Azerbaijan that I thought I’d like to consider getting another. They’re easy to travel with. I’ll never forget the sitar I tried to bring back from India. The gourd base broke in transit teaching me to really consider what travels well.  Though I love souvenir mugs from places I’ve been, I’ve lost some of these in transit as well.
Mehmet took me to Anatolian Carpets in the Grand Bazaar.  It was evident the english speaking manager and Mehmet were friends from way back.  I enjoyed them both and the tea ceremony which is part of the carpet sales ritual.  Turkish carpets in wool and silk were what I was interested in.  The tighter the weave, silk more the wool, the age of the carpet, whether it was made for a dowry or commercially, all entered into the quality and cost of a carpet.  I was shown a lot. Even ones that were done with camels hair.  Each was explained, the region and history of the individual carpet till sure enough there was the one I wanted.  Silk and wool so it could go on the floor and be durable but also just the colours and design and size  I wanted.  Silk alone was clearly more expensive and the ones I saw seemed more suited for hanging.  I wanted the joy of walking on my carpet.Then of course the barter and just the right price followed.  He would have shipped it home for me but packaged it just so with it’s individual certificate and invoice, that I thought it seemed easier to take with me.  Because we had more walking around to do he had it sent round to my hotel.  A lovely transaction.  A delightful experience.  Truly beautiful carpets.