One of my major loves about Istanbul are the markets. That is the Spice Market and the Grand Bazaar.



The Spice Market or Egyptian Market as it is also known, was built in 1664 offering herbal remedies, teas, spices as well as artifacts. There are also some extrodinary delis that sell some of the finest cheeses and meats available in Istanbul. The Spice Markets are surrounded by street bazaars selling textiles and other wholesale goods. I suggest you get involved with the buzz of the place, don't feel pressured by the vendors, but let them have their fun and play along with their game. They simply love it and you can tell they definitely love what they are doing.



The Grand Bazaar was first constructed in 1461. It takes up a surface of 30.7 hectares, 61 streets, 10 wells, 4 fountains, 2 mosques and over 3 thousand shops. You almost need a GPS to find your way through it, but luckily maps do exists. www.kapalicarsi.org.tr/eng/index.asp
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At the Spice Markets I was reeled in by Mustafa who mans a spice, tea and turkish delight stall. He sat me down and immediately plied me with Apple Tea. This concoction comes in two types, the instant sweet version and the pure dried apple version. I don't recommend the instant stuff, as it taste far too sweet. Whilst telling me about all the teas I simply must have, Mustafa also managed to question me about my life. He weadled out of me that I have a 17 year old son, and immediately fained shock, because I couldn't possible be more than 25 or 27 years old. Hmmm this has happened several times now...first the concierge, then a taxi driver and now Mustafa. Could I trust what Mustafa was saying, considering I was on the wrong side of 45? Judge for yourself. Is this not a face you could trust?



Here I must commendate the Turkish men, they generally are polite, will offer seats on the tram and compliment you on your dress. They are general not forward like the Italians; they won't oggle or whistle but certainly at the markets they will ask where you are from and try and induce you to purchase their wares. Nevertheless they are happy to flirt, even if there is no chance of a sale. It is not possible to do the Spice Market and the Grand Bazaar in one day. There is far too much to see and buy.



Since I am a bit of a 'foodie' I decided to take a cooking class in classic Turkish cuisine and joined the 'Cooking Alaturka ' class. Eveline Zoutendijk holds twice daily classes recreating a 5-course menu consisting of Ottoman and regional specialities. There were ten of us and to my surprise three from Australia. We Ozzies do get around!  The food was incredibly good and amazingly simple to make. She even managed to accommodate the vegetarian and gluten intolerant guests. Not to mention that her chef just happens to be quite handsome as well as charming.



When it comes to food Istanbul has some fantastic restaurants and unusual cuisine to offer. I ate at Asitane which is famous for its original Ottoman cuisine with dishes ranging back to the 15th century. The food was amazing and I sampled their almond soup and honey and apricot chicken. Delicious!



The other restaurant I want to mention became quickly my favourite and was just around the corner from Yogasala.



Kantin offers traditional Turkish cuisine with a modern twist. The emphasis is on organic and clean healthy food. Their baked eggplant was unbelievable and their desserts almost worth traveling the world for.



Of course there are many other places to eat that are not as fancy as Asitane and Kantin. Look out for the small holes in the wall where the locals eat. There you can get a really simple meal that is fresh and delicious and very cheap.