My sister was giving me that look like she was expecting the answer to be a no. I guessed I might not be at my best, which wasn’t surprising given I’d spent what felt like half the night nursing a stubbed toe.

“Kind of. In between, though, I managed to fall down a hole and trip over the shower.”

She raised an eyebrow.

“I needed the toilet. Don’t ask.”

In fairness, she didn’t. I suspected she just assumed clumsiness. In fact, the single room I’d been allocated at the Hotel Nomade was a bit of a tight squeeze, particularly in the bathroom, and to reach the toilet you had to walk through the sunken shower tray. But at least my room was ensuite, I reasoned. And it wasn’t budget-bustingly expensive despite its central location in the heart of Sultanahmet, meaning I wouldn’t have to hobble far to go sightseeing.

Sis had never been to Istanbul and had been easily persuaded by my assurance of cheap flights with Pegasus Airlines and tales regaled of the oh-so-cute kids who starred in its in-flight safety video. She’d hooted with laughter as I’d predicted and despite last night’s late arrival we were in good spirits for the first day’s sightseeing.

Breakfast on the hotel’s rooftop terrace revealed an excellent view of the Blue Mosque so it was there that we began. The first thing that struck us was its immense size. The vast interior was lined with ceramic tiles; we later found out that there are more than 20,000 of them, all handmade.

Two hundred or so stained glass panels allowed the morning sunshine to stream through, though there were also grand chandeliers which helped illuminate the space. We noticed something a little odd about them too: they featured ostrich eggs. Apparently, some said they were supposed to keep spiders at bay, though others argued the assertion was mere superstition and not grounded in fact. Nevertheless I filed the information away for future reference, spiders being a frequent visitor to my home in the autumn.

A few minutes’ walk across Sultanahmet Square was another of Istanbul’s great attractions, Hagia Sophia. Now a museum, it had started off life as a cathedral when it was built in 537AD, the largest of its kind anywhere in the world. Later it was converted to a mosque, remaining so until 1931. These days, it is a museum.

It was impossible not to be impressed by its huge dome, nor to miss the calligraphy on the roundels suspended from its walls. We learnt that these were names representing Allah, Mohammed and the four caliphs Abu Bakr, Uthman, Umar and Ali who were Mohammed’s successors. A cobblestone ramp took us to the upper galleries, wide enough that horses were once rode up it. From the top storey, we had a closer look at the impressive dome, though we were alarmed to be told that it had collapsed not once but twice before and beat a hasty retreat lest it should happen a third time.

It was time to head underground, and one of the most atmospheric spots to do so in the whole of Istanbul was fortuitously just around the corner. The Basilica Cistern was built in 532AD to store water, but was closed and forgotten about for centuries until in 1545, an academic who was researching the city’s antiquities had a casual conversation with some of the area’s residents who obtained their water by lowering buckets from their basements into the void below. Some even claimed to have caught fish.

Intrigued, the scholar found a way down and discovered a cavernous space lined with over three hundred columns. He was excited with his find, but the twist to this tale is that the city authorities weren’t. Unimpressed, they used the Cistern as a municipal dump, storing everything down there from junk to corpses. Fortunately, by the mid-eighties, Istanbul finally woke up to how important the place was, cleaned it up and opened it as a tourist attraction. Walking around, it was crazy to think that this could have remained under wraps for so long.

Back at street level, it was time to hit the bazaar, hopping off the tram at the Yusuf Pasa stop. Istanbul’s famous Grand Bazaar, like many in the Middle East, is a world away from the malls of the west. Its passageways stretch almost endlessly, a spider’s web of stone ensnaring 4,000 tiny shops along 61 arteries. It’s been a fixture here for over 500 years and an essential stop on any visitor’s itinerary.

I knew this wouldn’t be a fleeting stop for us; sis was a keen shopper and was excited at the opportunity to practise her haggling skills. There was no shortage of goods to eye up, and, as is the custom in the Orient, each kind of business had its own dedicated section of the market. There were jewellers, confectioners, furniture stalls, leather sellers and of course, piles and piles of rugs.  Had it not closed up for the evening, we’d have been there all night.

Tomorrow we would climb the Galata Tower, explore the Topkapi Palace and take to the water on one of the many ferries that criss-crossed the Bosphorus. We would hang out by the river and watch the birds hover expectantly over the fishermen’s rods on the bridge that linked Eminönü and Karaköy. We’d sniff spices in the Spice Bazaar, munch Turkish Delight and eat at a rooftop restaurant that offered what surely had to be one of the best views the city could offer.

But for now, my feet had had enough.  It was time to trip over the shower and go to bed.

The post Istanbul: Turkish Delight, Bazaars & Mosques appeared first on etrip.tips.

Istanbul has a long and fascinating history. It was once known as the country’s ancient capital, Constantinople, until 1923 when it was changed to Ankara.

It is also unique in that it is the only city in the world to span two continents. A bridge connecting Europe and Asia runs over the Bosporus Strait and allows residents and tourists to move freely between the two.

Istanbul is the economic and cultural heart and soul of Turkey, easily making it to my “must-see” list. Cultural activities, traditional foods and breath-taking sites offer plenty for the curious tourist.

I was lucky enough to travel with a Turkish citizen who lived in Istanbul for many years. He took me around and showed me all the attractions one should see when visiting the city.

Since I was on a budget, it was helpful to have someone to point out when the prices were inflated to take advantage of tourists.

With only a few days to spend in the city, I wanted to be sure to make the most of my visit, and luckily for me, my friend ensured we did just that!

Taksim Square

It was February during the time of my visit, and the weather was quite cold. We even saw a few days of snow! Because of the chilly temperatures we decided we wanted to stay somewhere that would allow us easy access to some popular sites, restaurants and bars, as well as public transportation.

Taksim Square is considered the city centre and one of the best areas to stay in terms of shopping, eating and accessing multiple attractions.

Perfectly located on a small side street within walking distance of the square, we rented a room in an apartment building that had been renovated into hotel-style accommodation.

I much preferred staying in a neighbourhood as opposed to a popular hotel because the atmosphere felt more authentic. Plus, the windy little roads and traditional Ottoman-style buildings were so quaint and charming!

Istikal Street

The famous Istikal Street connects to Taksim Square and is lined with shops, boutiques, restaurants and coffee shops. Every morning we started our day with a stroll down this street. I loved being able to grab a coffee, window shop and people watch all in the same place.

The Tϋnel

Constructed in 1875, the Tϋnel (The Tunnel) is a historical landmark that can be found at the far end of Taksim Square. The second oldest underground tunnel in the world also functions as a convenient mode of transportation to other parts of the city

This train has only one stop, so it’s more about the experience and less about the destination. Once we boarded the train at Taksim Square, it was just a short journey to the first and final stop, Karakӧy Square.

The Bazaars

From Karakӧy, we walked about 20 minutes across Haliç Bridge and made our way to the Grand Bazaar. We gave ourselves plenty of time to wander around and get lost, but to be honest, I left the famous market less than impressed.

I had been expecting more authentic handicrafts and one of a kind knick-knacks. Instead, I mostly saw cheaply made souvenirs and common retail items. My Turkish companion had warned me that the Grand Bazaar is more of a tourist trap than anything else, but I had wanted to see for myself.

We left the Grand Bazaars and walked another 15 minutes to the Spice Bazaar, for which I lowered my expectations. But once I entered, I could immediately see I would not be disappointed. There was stall after stall of specialty teas, nuts, herbs, spices and sweets.

This is the place to sample and purchase a wide variety of Turkish delight; the renowned dessert made from fruit and gelatine, mixed with nuts and brushed with sugar or another sweet flavoured powder. My favourite was a combination of coconut-marshmallow-y flavoured gelatine, pistachio nuts and coconut flakes.

The Spice Bazaars proved to be a great place for gift shopping as well. I bought flower and herbal teas for my Mum and sweets and other goodies for my friends. Overall, the Spice Bazaar was a successful and tasty stop.

Exhausted and satisfied, we headed home to rest up for the next day’s adventure.

Galata Tower

Day two started with a wander across Taksim Square and a stroll down Istikal Street.  At the end of the road we took a winding right and arrived at our first stop of the day; The Galata Tower.

One of the oldest and most iconic landmarks in Istanbul, the Galata Tower is a medieval building that was constructed in the 14^th century.  The main purpose of the 67-meter tower was to serve as a look-out tower over the Bosporus Strait. It had several other uses throughout history, but today it is used mainly as a tourist attraction.

The best part? The amazing panoramic view of Istanbul and the Bosporus from the observation deck. They’ve even turned the top floor into a restaurant, so we could sit and enjoy the view with a Turkish coffee.

Mosques

Istanbul is home to many recognisable landmarks. The Sultan Ahmed Mosque (also known as the Blue Mosque) and the Hagia Sophia are some of the most revered and two of the ones I wanted to see.

We walked less than two kilometres from the Spice Bazaars and arrived to the mosques. Both are within proximity to one other.

Stunning architecture, intricate design and meticulous detail combine to create some of the most breath-taking buildings in the world. They were truly impressive sights and I felt humbled by the size and significance of both mosques.

My whirlwind tour of Istanbul left me loving it and wanting more. Just two days in the city had opened my eyes to all the things it had to offer – and we had only just scratched the surface. I can’t wait for the day that I can return to this awe-inspiring city and uncover even more of its secrets.

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