Sunday 9 October 2011

Tales from Turkey - Part II


The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul has allegedly got 58 covered streets and over 4000 shops! Overwhelming is a pale understatement. Getting-lost-factor? Very high. However, this being my fourth visit, and having been blessed with a built-in radar, I know my way around some parts and know that when the crowds, the chaos and the sales-hungry shop keepers start getting to me, I can escape to a small outdoor square in the western area of this enormous myriad of bustling trade. It seems like few tourists make it out there, and the small shops and workshops flanking the little square are a calm haven.

There, in a tiny shop, I saw these little tassled darlings, and it was explained to me that they are for "lokum", i e Turkish delights, sugar and other sweet things.


Gorgeous metal kaftans in different sizes and patterns.


I simply had to take a photo of The Cat on a Hot Tin Roof here, just so that I could write that...


...and this little darling needed no literary reference...

***

The hotel we stayed in had a very warm and welcoming lobby, 
more like someone's modern - or modern traditional - Turkish living room than a formal lobby:


I like the kaftan-shaped lamp base...


... and the colours here are to me both calming and energizing...


Now, I confess, one thing in the pictures in this blog post happened to come with me home. I wonder if you can guess what...? A hint: as much as I would have liked to, no feline smuggling took place in the Swenglish suitcase. In my next blog entry, I will show you what it was and how I have put it to use at home... After that, one more Turkish-scented blog entry before I return to my interior and garden themes a little more religiously for a while!

All the best and thank you for your kind comments.
Helena

17 comments:

  1. Åhh vilka underbara bilder!!! Blir så sugen på att åka- NU;)Önskar dig en fin söndag. Kram Johanna

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  2. What a wonderful hotel! And nice things you found on the bazar! Thanks for sharing!
    Markus

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  3. Your pictures are beautiful, I am guessing you bought the lovely decorated cupboard - I would have! I am visiting Turkey myself soon - hope I see as many beautiful things as you have. Betty

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  4. hi helena, such gorgeous pics and the little cat is so cute! hughs Anja

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  5. More, more ,more - just love the photographs and your commentary - I'm almost there then, where did you stay ?

    Looking forward to the 3rd post.

    Diane.

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  6. Herlige bilder! Jeg bare eeeelsker Istanbul! Det er endel år sideN jeg var der, men det er ganske likt seg, ser jeg! Takk for at du delte disse deilige bildene!

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  7. What a beautiful hotel.....beautiful decorated !!...show us more darling...love from me...xxx..

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  8. How did I miss your previous post!! shocking. Such vibrant colours and exotic sights, just wonderful, a real treat for jaded eyes looking constantly at grey English skies.

    I can't guess what you brought home with you, but whatever it is it is sure to be beautiful, and will be shown in your lovely home to it's best advantage. xx

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  9. Vilka ljuvliga bilder från Turkiet! Jag har tydligen missat ditt förra inlägg - så spännande med alla färger och former! Blev särskilt förtjust i de vackra lamporna/lyktorna!
    Å så en liten söt kattunge mitt i alltihop! Oj, så bedårande den är!
    Önskar dej en skön söndag!
    Kramar
    Lisa

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  10. Heeej!

    Du berättar så vackert om Turkiet Helena. Har läst ikapp mig nu. Känslan av mystik eller saga är högst påtaglig. Arkitekturen är rysligt vacker och så detaljrik. Har aldrig varit där, men någon gång kanske. En sån söt kissemisse... Men den lämnade du förstod jag :-)) Hrmm..... då gissar jag på att en sån där sötsaks-'anordning' nu står någonstans i det Swengelska hemmet... Slänger in en brasklapp dock om en metall-kaftan..... svårt val. Härligt att gå på marknad, men säkerligen bra att kunna några genvägar :-)) Jag skulle antagligen ha mycket svårt att inse att hemresan inte sker med bil utan med flyg, och att man måste begränsa sig....

    Här har det varit frost i natt. Men fröken trädgårdsflow tog sovmorgon så frosteriet är nu försvunnet (skööönt). Det var en morgonpigg cykeltokig make upplyste en morgontrött moi om det hela :-))

    Nu laddas här för några timmar i det gröna. Blir nervös över att det ska bli mer kyla. Är ju liksom inte klar med alla höstsysslor. Är ju mentalt kvar i augusti....

    Ta hand om dig!!!
    Varma och lätt frostnupna kramar från norr
    /Charlotte

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  11. Hello my sweetie! I was in Turkey 13 yers ago for more than 1 month, and still I can't forget it!
    Thank you for your photos, they remind me so many beautiful things, and the absolutely unforgetting Cappadocian landscapes...
    Hugs
    Silvia

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  12. ja, det er vel så hverken killingen eller de fine tyrkiske tagspir på 3. billede du tog med hjem ... så vi må vente og se hvad du viser :-)

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  13. 1001 night ?!!
    Greetings Rosine ♥♥♥

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  14. Ja, eftersom det inte var katten du tog med hem, så tror jag det var 'godisgömman', fast kaftanerna är nog också mycket vackra. Härliga bilder och stämningar från Istanbul! Tack! Kramar, Mona

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  15. Wonderful photos!!!!!!
    Franca

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  16. I like very much your photos and Istanbul !!!

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