THE GRAND BAZAAR AREA
Meeting Point : Meet the guide by the Çemberlitas Tram
Station
Day : Saturday mornings at 9 am.
Program : Probably the best way to describe the Grand Bazaar is to
quote Mark Twain – "We went to the Grand Bazaar in Stamboul,
of course, and I shall not describe it further than to say it is
a monstrous hive of little shops – thousands, I should say – all
under one roof, and cut up into innumerable little blocks by narrow
streets which are arched overhead." With more than 4000 shops
in 64 streets and with 22 gates Grand Bazaar – or Kapalýçarþý as
it is in Turkish - , looks like a labyrinth. We must say that this
is definetely not a shopping tour – but a walk that will compass
you through shops where they sell leather goods, sweets, dried fruit
and spices, jewelery, glassware, pottery, fabrics, belly dancing
costumes, t-shirts and all sorts of souvenirs. We will visit the
workshops where you will see how gold is being melt on fire same
way for many centuries; you will wtiness how the craftsmen are fixing
degrees on carrats; you will see how artisans do their engraving
on silver. Let your guide show the most immpressive viewpoint of
Istanbul from a surprising terrace! Let us guide you through most
authentic districts of our city.
BALAT TO TEKFUR – THE JEWISH DISTRICT
Meeting Point : Meet the guide in Balat by the Bus Station
Day : Sunday afternoons at 2 pm.
Program : Istanbul has vibrant Jewish community for more than 1000
years. After the Turkish conquest of Istanbul, Sultan Mehmet II
encouraged immigration to repopulate the city. Over half a million
Jews persecuted in Spain and Portugal were encouraged to establish
themselves within the boundaries of Ottoman Empire. In Istanbul
the new immigrants settled mostly near Balat - quarter on the southern
bank of the Golden Horn - where a Jewish community had existed
since Byzantine times. We walk in Balat and find ourselves in intriguing
streets of this amazing bunch of colourfull life. Synagogues, Armenian
churches, Romaic churches, Byzantine remnants and Ayazma’s
are part of todays advanture.
