Istanbul, Turkey

We had an overnight here in Istanbul, Turkey. I was getting over some pretty bad laryngitis and needed some rest, so the first day I only ventured to the area around the port with our fantastic Cruise Director, Mr. Leslie Jon. 

Leslie really knows his way around this part of the world and a walk around the vibrant city of Istanbul was not that different from being with him while walking around the ship. He knows merchants and restauranteurs and is stopped & greeted everywhere he goes. You certainly feel you're in great hands as you explore this exotic city. 

About 4-5 blocks from where the ship is docked is Leslie's favorite baklava shop. I thought I'd had baklava before, but this was really fantastic. They must have a dozen different varieties and we had a huge plate of pistachio (each!) which was delicious with such a flavor of real, fresh pistachio. Not to be believed.

Turned in early last night, got a good rest then Leslie and I ventured back out into the real city, joined by our friend from Monte Negro, Blazo, who is on staff.

We picked up the convenient and modern air conditioned tram that travels the center of the principal corridor, passed the famous Blue Mosque with its six minarets and got off at the stop right in front of the Grand Bazaar.

I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was much nicer than I had anticipated. Instead of one large room or area divided in stalls like one sees in much of the world, this market has actual little store fronts all facing little passages which run for days, like the layout of a small city. The unusual vaulted ceilings looked like they'd been painted centuries ago, but that may be just age and dirt. Still, it made for an exotic shopping experience.

Everything and anything is pretty much available here and I don't think they were arranged by any particular category. Jewelry of all sorts, of course rugs, silks, scarves, watches, hanging lamps, the usual T shirts, jeans and baseball caps of a sorts were in abundance. 

The merchants would stop you to tempt you with their products, but they were very polite and most spoke very good english. Not much of that annoying (but I suppose understandable) harassment one gets from vendors in many cities. The official currency is the Turkish Lira, but Euro and US dollars were also frequently traded.

Leslie was in rare form and EVERYONE seemed to know him and want his time (I think they believe he can send lots of cruise guests their way; altho that's not his role). The hospitality seemed very genuine; we visited an old man in his enclosed rug shop which has been in business since 1918. We were invited behind the counters of an open sided jewelry store to sit and the owner, who, by muttering into an old intercom on the wall, graciously made apple chi teas appear, carried by a worker who used one of the unique handled trays that are seen everywhere. 

Can't wait to come back and really do some shopping at the Bazaar when we return in a couple of weeks. One could knock out an entire Christmas list in one short afternoon!

After exploring a bit, we made our way to Leslie's favorite coffee shop and had a nice cup of cappuccino; delicious and pretty much like any good cappuccino I'd had before. Not the syrupy thick Turkish coffee I'd seen in documentaries. 

By now it was time for lunch (are you seeing a theme here?) and we went to a nice, modest little restaurant which even though it caters to a tourist clientele, served terrific an authentic Turkish menu.

I'll need to get some help with the names of everything, but we started off with a fresh little salad and then they brought a plate of delicous grape leaves rolled around a mixture of rice and spices (served cold). We then enjoyed a delicious appetizer which was made of a flat dough which was rolled a bit like a cigar or small Mexican flauta, stuffed with cheese inside then deep fried. VERY tasty.

Our main course was a sort of kebob, but unlike any I'd had before. Not the usual cubed meats and vegetables; they must take some sort of chopped beef, add lots of spices (this one was quite spicy) and either form it around the skewer, or make a little snake and then skewer it. Maybe someone can tell me how it's prepared but it comes out one long piece (skewer already removed). Served with both french fries and mixed rice sides. 

Dessert was a packaged vanilla ice cream cup of a rather depressing and gummy ice cream which was saved by a lovely piece of, you guessed it... baklava on the side. Not quite as fresh as we'd had the day before but I'm sure I ate it all.

We took a cab back to the ship in time for the lifeboat drill and now I'm going to relax for a bit until it's time to get ready for my show this evening. 

All in all, a terrific city with so much to offer and I really only got a sneak peek. I'm so happy I'm going to be coming back in a few weeks to maybe dig a little deeper into this wonderful city, founded by Constantinople, which has been the gateway between east and west for centuries.

Tomorrow we're visiting Nessebur, Bulgaria. I think I'm on tour again!