http://www.grandbazaaristanbul.org/Grand_Bazaar_Istanbul.html

Nazim and Dr. Huffard advised us ad nauseam not to spend our money in the Grand Bazaar because we would have opportunities to shop elsewhere, away from Istanbul, at much more reasonable prices. But we were allowed some time to walk through and take a look until it was time to head over toward the Blue Mosque after the noon prayer.



The name of the game at the Grand Bazaar is negotiate. The salesmen throughout the Bazaar were comical, persistent and honest. They knew that we knew things were overpriced and they were eager to make a deal. The bazaar is so large, it's easy to get lost among the crowds of people and maze of shops.



This was the first place in Turkey where I had to pay to use a restroom. It cost .50 lira and included a) a "normal" toilet, b) toilet paper, c) soap and warm water for washing hands, and d) a little extra something for the hands: scented hand sanitizer, compliments of the coin collector at the exit.