Our cruise reviews - A ship review of the Crown Odyssey

Our Cruises, a passenger review of the Crown Odyssey with Pictures of Istanbul.

Istanbul Pictures

Our Istanbul pictures remind us Istanbul is full of great places to see and things to do. The Grand bazaar, the blue mosque, Everyone should have a chance to shop at the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Market. We especially liked the Taksim. You really get the flavor visiting the shops along the side streets and alleys along the Taksim.

There are museums, ancient churches, palaces great mosques, bazaars and the Bosporus. However long you stay, just a few days or longer, your time will be wonderfully filled in this unforgettable city rich in culture and history.

The Blue Mosque, a must see, is such a popular tourist sight that entry is strictly controlled to preserve its sacred atmosphere. Only worshippers can enter through the main door; tourists must use the north door and are not admitted at prayer time.

Another "must see" is the Grand Bazaar. It has been a shopper's Mecca since just after the mid-15th century, when the smallish warehouse was turned into a teeming bazaar by a constant stream of traders, selling everything from carpets to cumin. Thousands of tiny shops selling everything from Turkish daggers to Turkish delight... a candy made with pistachio nuts.

Tourist shops selling glittery trinkets line the main streets, but delve into the back streets and you'll still find women buying a few yards of cloth, , a gold-plated 'eye' to ward off evil or an antique carpet. It is still possible to buy precious gems, old coins and intricately crafted jewelry on Jewelers St.

The Grand Bazaar is also renowned for offering basement-bargain deals on fur and leather goods, and a wide range of handcrafted goodies.

We purchased clothing and luggage at the Grand Bazaar along with souvenirs for our family and friends, and had a great time doing it. Kathy as it turns out is great at bartering.


This is the entrance to the Grand Bazaar	Inside the Grand Bazaar	Kathy shopping for levis.


Kathy buying some shoes at the Grand Bazaar. This is out on a side street and down in a basement.	Shopping for under ware... the airlines lost her luggage that had her under ware in it.	Smoking a hookah....apple tobacco...honest! Hookahs were provided for a small charge at our hotel.


Kathy enjoys smoking a hookah as well!	Buying glasses for dad.	Buying lace for her daughter.


Pretty stuff	Buying a chess set for son Chris	Plenty of pigeons just outside the spice market.


Ever heard of the Orient Express? This is the Station at the end of the line!	Kathy at the spice market.	Spices at the spice market


Taksim	Eggs? Coke?	Why is Kathy smiling?


	The food in the windows always looks so good.


Flowers	The traffic can be a bit intimidating.	Vegetables

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