Market Day

Today I explored the bustling spice bazaar and grand market, captivated by the scents, colorful lamps, and arched buildings. While sipping Turkish coffee, I enjoyed the vibrant atmosphere and the authentic charm of the bazaars. Although it felt crowded at times, by the end of the day, I was grateful to experience it all.

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09:30
It’s okay if my morning ends up being unproductive; what’s more important is to sleep as much as I need.

10:40
Islam is a practical religion. Whatever they are doing, they stop for prayer time every few hours, taking regular breaks.

10:48
Taksim Square, under bright sunshine. Another beautiful day ahead.
I’m not walking all the way to the seaside today; I’ll save my energy for later. I take the underground funicular to the tram, then cross the nearly 500-meter-long Galata Bridge (about the length of a bridge in Budapest). My destination is the spice bazaar on the other side.

11:22
From the outside, and with a Hungarian perspective, it doesn’t look like a market. It seems more like a moderately decorated but beautiful public building. Inside, I find unexpected cleanliness and organization. The nearly white walls are adorned with subtle Arabic motifs and topped with characteristic Byzantine arches. The air is filled with a fragrant mix of sweets and spices. Starting the day with this market was a great idea.

11:40
I only explore the building, or rather most of it.
There are no major surprises, but that’s not a bad thing. This is an authentic Mediterranean market. I’ve seen similar ones before, thankfully without any unpleasant surprises. It feels just as good as I expected.

11:48
Finally, I find a café that feels just right. Not that I had an issue with the others, but I like to carefully choose where I sit. Turkish coffee proves to be a great choice again, and it comes with a glass of tea, a small bottle of water (like those used for kefir), and lokum (fruit jelly).

11:55
The distance between the spice market and the grand bazaar is short in a straight line. Along the way, vendors keep offering their goods at every turn. It feels like the entire Old Town peninsula is filled with parks, rows of bazaars, and, of course, historical landmarks charging good money for entry. I could complain, but honestly, I enjoy it.

12:07
When I enter the grand bazaar through its gate, adorned with security guards and metal detectors, I still don’t realize it’s a larger complex than a decent Dubai mall. The building resembles the previous one: cleanliness, white walls, discreet decorations, and arches.

12:18
I love these colorful lamps. If I had space in my bag, I’d take one home. I’m looking for socks because my feet are cold today, though I don’t really need anything else. Of course, if something catches my eye…

12:25
A Chinese vendor in a Turkish bazaar feels a bit out of place.

12:28
Ah, it really is a labyrinth. There are wide corridors, but also ones so narrow that the walls are less than five feet apart.
It seems I came at a good time, as it’s not too crowded here either.

12:34
In the center of the vast bazaar complex, I find the old market. This section is mostly for jewelers and antiquarians. The building is made of bricks, including its domes.
Originally, each product group had its own street. While there’s some mixing now, you can still tell where the art gallery sellers are: on the right, down the second corridor, in the side streets on the left. The leather vendors are in a separate hall above the main building.

13:52
How convenient—one of the upper gates leads directly to the tram stop. A short walk in the sunny market, and then I board the tram wearing just my long-sleeved shirt.

January 2, 2025