Istanbul day 3

Tuesday, after a couple of days recovery and a very tentative trip down the stairs and around the block yesterday, Stephen decided he was OK to come out with us. So we caught a cab to the Spice Market as we weren't sure how he'd go down the steep cobbled lanes and steps to the tram stop. We settled on a place that had a good variety of nuts, dried fruits and fruit and nut rolls (pomegranate and pistachio yum) and stocked up. Plus the fresh figs and pomegranates are to die for they are so so good!


Stephen was going OK, if a little slowly (which was fine) so we decided to top up the Istanbulkart and take the tram to the Grand Bazaar. "Grand" just doesn't do it justice the place is HUGE! Sadly a lot of the old buildings have hoardings around them. We'd like to think that they are in the process of being done up but sadly I think it might be because they are falling down. Where we are staying is an odd mix of new apartments and very old (historic) buildings, many of which are being restored. Which could possibly be Turkish for we have no money but we want to appear to be doing something so we put up this impressive hoarding with a picture on the front of what it used to look like, and who knows may again one day.