Istanbul's Spice Bazaar is a chaotic, bustling marketplace. Here, you can buy everything from sweets to spice racks, fresh fish and vacuum cleaner hoses. It is packed with shoppers: the crowds are so thick they would put Times Square to shame, and it can take an hour just to push three blocks through to the main street from a twisting side alley. Occasionally, a car or truck, horn blaring, fights its way down one of these alleys, nearly scraping the sides of old brick buildings. Looming above all this madness is Rüstem Pasa mosque. Almost 500 years old, it is a peaceful oasis surrounded by the warring shoppers and hawkers of the bazaar. After navigating the crowds and wandering through a maze of cobblestone alleyways, the well-hidden entrance leads up a flight of dark stairs to an incredibly quiet courtyard. Inside, a few men are praying, and the lavish tiles shine in the light of hanging lamps. The silence is deep, and the stillness and beauty are only enhanced by the melee outside its walls.
I am leaving Istanbul for now, so expect photos of quieter, less crowded places soon (I hope). What I've taken so far is here: http://picasaweb.google.com/dnemens/Istanbul
Your comments, criticisms, and praise are always welcome.
Love to all,
Deborah
1 comment:
Keep up the great postings.
love, dad
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