Spice Market, Istanbul

Today's itinerary: visits to iconic places in Istanbul. We started with breakfast in the hotel, at 7 am, which was midnight to those of us on the east coast of the US. There was a good option for food at the breakfast buffet, including salads, a variety of olives and cheeses, yoghurt. Too jet lagged to take photos, but I recall that I did not care for the sausages, but love the soft boiled eggs. We got on the big Gate 1 tour bus (they have their own logo on it) at 8 am and joined the traffic on the narrow streets to our first stop, the spice market. We had been warned that it would rain today. Luckily I brought along my disposable raincoat, as the rain got heavier when we reached the spice market.

I have been to the spice market about 12 years ago, on an Easter weekend. Unlike the last time, we were there so early that it was not as crowded as I remembered. I seemed to me that eerything was over-priced, so I spent the time taking photos. Some of the tea mixes on display had interesting names, like viagra tea and love tea next to the jasmine tea.

I went out of the market in search of an umbrella, wandered about the side streets to see stores selling clothing, knick knacks and fabric and dodging vehicles that came through the narrow streets. Made sure to keep an eye for the location of the Spice Market as a reference point, since those side streets can be confusing. Most of the stalls were just opening, and I gave up, going back to the meeting point just outside the Spice Market entrance at the agreed time for departure to the next sight, the Topkapi Palace.

Topkapi Palace

Haggia Sophia Hippodrome Blue Mosque rescheduled to tomorrow due to weather and the extremely long lines