En route to Cyprus, my flight had a stop over at Istanbul and I thought this was the perfect opportunity to experience Istanbul in the short layover I had. I had to decide how I can get the most out of Istanbul in 24 hours. I naturally picked the famous attractions such as the Ayasofya, Grand Bazaar and the Blue Mosque. The following are reflections of mine on Istanbul during my short stay there (more…)
The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is the oldest and largest indoor bazaar in the world. First opened in 1401, it has over 1,200 shops in 60 covered streets. So be prepared to be lost, or be traveling in circles. It’s amazing how they have integrated modern store fronts in a 400 year old mall.
There were plenty of gold, silver, iron and copper artifacts, porcelain tiles and decorative items. You need, at the very least one whole day to experience the entire Bazaar, but be prepared to be hassled by vendors. (more…)