Going places that I've never been, seeing things that I may never see again: Turkey, day five

Today (edit: actually yesterday, now) we visited the Istanbul Grand Bazaar, the largest covered market in Istanbul and one of the biggest and oldest in the world. It was founded in 1455! Originally merchants gathered together in areas of the bazaar based on their guilds, and today similar items are still generally found in the same areas. Putting so much commerce under one roof was thought to be good for everyone in terms of safety of goods and price protections.

Abandon hope all ye who enter here

Alright, so I am not a natural-born shopper, bargainer, whatever. True millennial that I am, face-to-face conversation scares me and I frequently like to do price comparison and purchasing online and have things delivered to my doorstep without ever necessarily having interacted with another human. This is, naturally, not the way things are done in the Grand Bazaar. There are over 3000 stores (!??!?!?!?!) that stretch out for miles and price comparison is only so possible. First, most of the shopkeepers stand outside their shops and attempt to bring people in by vocally advertising deals and prices. Second, once you have decided to enter, they will offer you tea or coffee, probably, and then they will focus their attention solely on helping you until you buy something or leave. Also, whatever price is listed is not actually what you are expected to pay--haggling is usually very much needed. If, like me, you don't speak Turkish, this can be difficult (though our wonderful host did a fair bit of haggling for us). While this is altogether a very polite way of doing business, it's also very stressful for us introverts of the world.

We bought a small and gorgeous kilim from these very nice carpet merchants.

However, the Grand Bazaar is also a completely necessary cultural experience. Don't get me wrong--I liked visiting the bazaar, in the end. I just found it exhausting. Where else can you see such a variety of authentically Turkish wares and people? And yes, the Grand Bazaar is old and historic, and brilliant in that manner. We went in with a list of souvenirs and other things to be purchased, and came out almost entirely satisfied with our purchases and with the atmosphere.

Old arches and columns are my favorite.

ALL THE SILVER

This day was also a success in my ongoing in-search-of-good-food quest because I tried sahlep for the first time, this hot drink made in part from orchid. So so good.