Bargaining through the day in Istanbul

It was chilly today in Istanbul, with a breeze off the Sea of Marmara. The temp probably never made 50 degrees, and the wind made it feel something like late October in Virginia. Yet we still had a great day.
We went on a long bus tour around the city to make certain that we saw everything important, and then we stopped off at the fish market. There were thousands of fresh fish and fresh veggies, and we three ate copious amounts of both. The bill? About $10. We walked back through the city near the Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome and found a place that does terrific hand-made ceramics. One of the artists even threw some clay onto the wheel and made a piece while we were there, and then my wife Rita put on some dirty work pants, sat on a stool, pushed against the wheel to get it spinning properly and worked some clay herself. She made and decorated a bowl that ... we didn't keep. We did, however, buy a couple of things – they gave us a 50% discount – so, if you're lucky, maybe you will see what we bought when we get home, or even get something we got for you! (Forget I mentioned that 50% discount thing. We think so highly of you that we'd have bought it for you, discount or no discount. At least that's my story, and I'm sticking with it.)

Later, just around dinner time, we went into the famous Spice Market where they have ... spices of all kinds, teas, leather goods, candy, pots and pans and on and on. My wife is so adept at bargaining now that I'm sure that she will suffer withdrawal symptoms when she gets home and she goes into a store that has the price already set. Now she bargains over items that she doesn't even want to but, just to keep her skill set in good shape. We bought a few minor items. No, we did not buy the "Love Tea," nor did we buy any “Turkish Viagra.” Should we get some for you and your spouse?

Then we walked under the bridge that goes to the other side of the city, and there were probably 10 restaurants there. People were fishing from the top of the bridge above, and we could see their lines going up and back down into the water. Nobody seemed to be catching anything, which was odd, considering the fish we had seen at the market earlier in the day..

Walking by the restaurants, we were approached by a guy or two at each place. They all wanted us to frequent their place. They asked us where we were from, and not one of them guessed that we were from America. If anything, they thought that we were British. The restaurants were not expensive, but my wife couldn't help herself.

“Will you give us a 10% discount if we come back?” she asked. The guy at the first place promised to do that, and she had him sign a card – a tiny contract – that said as much. Then she took that card to each of the other restaurants and tried to do better. By the time we finally settled on one, the owner was promising a 10% discount, free salad and French fries, coffee after the meal and a dessert. We chose that one and enjoyed the meal and the maritime views right outside our window. The ferries were operating from both sides of the city and the harbor was filled with commercial traffic. Lights twinkled in the hills that rise gradually away from the harbor, and the evening was mighty fine.

Istanbul is a great city to visit. The people are hard working and pleasant, and even the ones that try to get you to buy something don't get mad if you turn them down. For the most part, Turks like Americans, and the city isn't expensive to visit. Most cab fares are in the $5 range or less, and there are modern trams that are even cheaper. The meals have been very reasonable, and the hotel we're staying in is about $70 a night, and that includes three free breakfasts every morning. Americans don't get here for a vacation much, but there are a lot of attractive things to see and do here, and maybe more Americans should consider this place. There is a culture here that goes back thousands of years, and the place is genuine. There's a lot to like in Turkey.