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Grand Bazaar
The Grand Bazaar has over 4,000 shops containing
all kinds of everything, in particular silver and gold, ceramics,
glassware, leather, metal wares and Turkish carpets. If you're
an obvious tourist you'll soon get hi-jinxed by a smooth talking
host who'll offer to show you around the city, and who's father
probably owns the best deal carpet store in town!
One eccentric item to buy is an Evil Eye. Everyone
in Istanbul has an one, it is believed you need it to prevent
bad things from happening to you. At the bazaar, chill out
smoking a Nargile pipe. These relax you without the
harmful effects of cigarettes. They can be flavoured with
apple and even cappuccino!
Egyptian Spice Bazaar
Next to the Yeni Mosque, the Spice Bazaar, or Misir Carsisi,
is a mystical eastern fantasy. For centuries, the Turkish
have been coming to the Spice Bazaars instead of the doctors
for centuries old remedies, and even for modern day illnesses.
Herbal remedies can often alleviate symptoms for diseases
like cancer and remedies for infertility, weight loss.
The Spice Bazaar spills into the Grand Bazaar and it is a
centre for bustle and activity. It's a giant covered market
with all the same items stalls placed together. The architecture
is a simple Ottoman design of arched eyvans, each accompanied
by a shop. The jars of spices and drugs originally would by
displayed in the front Eyvan of the shop. The spice section
of the market is filled with barrels of colourful spices and
a potpourri of different smells.
Bartering
If you're going to the Grand Bazaar you have got to learn
how to barter if you're going to chase that elusive bargain,
remember that the local will set their first price outrageously
high and will expect you to bargain them down, it's their
idea of fun meets good business.
Bartering Tips:
- Love the process
- Get to know the person first and have mint tea
- Never show much interest in what you want
- Never ask the price
- Eventually say "haven't you got something special in
the back room". The traders always do and you can get
a good price.
- If you go too low, your trader will never sell to you no
matter how high you go afterwards.
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