Traveling To Istanbul

[Guest guest]

Oh, Butch, thanks a lot for the information.

 

In my trip to Turkey you'llbe faithfully remembered as I'm going to print your

words and read them in every resting place.

Anyway, you didn't tell me where to find EOs, but many of the oil we purchase

here in Brasil are from Turkey. So I might as well put my big Turkish nose into

action, take a whiff in the middle of those 4000 spice shops and get some decent

oils.

I do not buy from your hydrossol now because I don't have any money, as I'm

saving for the trip, but I know I'll buy from next batch.

I' from a shopping list of soapmakers and we are all mad about good essential

oils and hydrossols.

If you have a catalogue or something like that, I'd be really glad to help

selling your stuff here.

And, if by any chance you want to buy things from Brasil ( we are making a

vegetable oil list now - with delicious butters, like mango, copuaçu, babaçu,

murumuru, shea, coconut and palm) I'd be glad to help out.

As for the thieves, I was born in São Paulo, which is second in street

violence after Rio de Janeiro. I am going to try to be clever in the market not

to get stolen. And as for bargain... wellllllllll.... I always do... a lot.

Many thanks,

Ane*

 

 

 

 

 

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Música para ver e ouvir: You're Beautiful, do James Blunt

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Ane,

 

> Butch,

> I am going to go to Istanbul in December 14th and I would like

> some advice on what to buy and where.

 

Lucky you are for sure and a very good time you will have ... I'm

certain of this. :-P

 

You asked a short question .. but I'm going to give you a rather long

answer. ;-) Most of what I have written below is matter of fact and

not subject to argument even by Turks. Some of it is opinion .. but I

believe that my opinions of Turkey perhaps more valid than the opinions

of those who have just visited here .. and even those of most Turks ..

because I have lived here on and off for close to 26 years .. this trip

began in 1988 .. I have experienced life from every angle here .. and

have viewed events through the eyes of a foreigner as well as the eyes

of a person who calls Turkey his second home. ;-)

 

The # 1 " Where " would be the ancient Covered (Grand) Bazaar .. it has

over 4,000 shops under one roof. If you are traveling with a tourist

group and you intend to go along with the tour guide's program .. you'll

probably find the guide " herding " the group to particular shops .. these

shops have agreed to give him/her a " return " on your investment.

 

If you're on your own .. shop around because 3 different shops side by

side will have different prices for the same item. And BARGAIN .. if

you don't bargain you will pay too much and the merchant will think you

are a foolish person. ;-)

 

If you visit the Grand Bazaar (and you should) .. be aware that it is

also the hang out for pick pockets. There will be dozens and dozens of

plain clothes police out and about in the crowds .. but 500 police would

not be enough due to the size of the place and the ease of getting lost

in the crowd. The majority of these thieves are not Turks .. they are

illegal immigrants from the Balkans and Albania .. times are hard back

home so they see the Grand Bazaar as being a great location to make a

living. These criminals are very shrewd .. they could teach the

American and European pickpockets much about the art of slickery.

 

Contrary to one propaganda film about Turkey .. Turkish police officers

are very kind, helpful, friendly folks .. very approachable. They will

go out of their way to help a visitor .. or a Turk. They might be a big

tougher on the criminals than the average American cop but they are not

as intense and officious as are most American cops.

 

Also sort of off subject .. it is my opinion that another place where

slicky boys are as thick as in the Grand Bazaar .. is on the streets of

Madrid, Spain .. especially around the area of the Plaza del Sol. If

any of you is planning to go there .. enjoy .. but be aware. Spanish

law cannot punish them unless the victim returns in person for the trial

and that does not happen very often .. thus, they are inclined to hit on

the tourists.

 

If you are going to carry a handbag in the Grand Bazaar or in Madrid

(which is not a good idea) then make sure the opening is toward your

body. Best it is for men and women to wear tight jeans and keep your

money in your front pocket.

 

Not to give the wrong impression about Istanbul .. crime (outside the

Bazaar and the area of Laleli) is rare .. Istanbul has more crime than

any other city in Turkey due to its size (over 15 million folks) and the

large number of illegal immigrants who come to make a living through

crime. But still .. the crime rate in Istanbul is far lower than almost

any large city in Europe or the USA.

 

And .. the types of crimes in Turkey are not violent crimes .. rapes,

robbery, assaults/muggings and such are almost unheard of .. its the

slicky crimes against property rather than crimes against persons that

you find here. That might be because a large number of Turkish men are

armed .. knowing one is going up against a person who has a permit to

" carry " can make a slicky boy think a time or three. ;-)

 

Almost all Turkish people you'll meet in Istanbul will be helpful - even

those who do not speak English will find someone who does if you need

directions. But when you get outside the city, in rural areas .. you

will meet folks who will shower you with hospitality .. and kill their

last chicken just to feed their honored guest.

 

Back to shopping .. there are modern shopping centers throughout the

city .. Atakoy and/or Akmerkez Shopping Centers and Malls are good ones.

 

What to buy? Hand woven Kilims, Carpets, Pillow Cases, Feed Bags, ..

100% Cotton Robes .. and a variety of other textile items .. all high

quality and low cost .. Turkish textiles are among the world's best.

 

Brass, Copper and Silver items .. much of the Copper is hand beaten and

very old. Many copper dealers will have an interesting .. sometimes

romantic " tale " about each piece they have for sale .. which is normally

not true. They'll have old inscriptions on the back of many pieces ..

dates and who presented the piece to who for what reason .. maybe half

of these are authentic .. the other half are recently made antiques.

 

These traders actually do trade new lamps for old. ;-) They go to

villages and trade stainless steel cookware for the old copperware. But

it is illegal to export Antiques from Turkey .. to ensure that Turkish

culture is not sold off, Turkish laws have made it illegal to export

most antiques more than 100 years old. The penalties for violation of

these laws are harsh .. normally heavy fines and often jail time.

 

Around the area of Laleli .. near the center of the tourism area of

Istanbul .. are the " Suitcase Trade " markets/bazaars .. the folks who

set up shop on the street and then pack up their goods and go home at

night .. one worth visiting is the Russian Bazaar. You will find lots

of Russian antiques in Istanbul .. like Samovars .. they are legal to

export because they are not Turkish. A reasonable price for a 100 +

year old " stamped " Samovar is around $150.

 

You'll find lots of shops with Jewelry fashioned in old Ottoman design

with silver necklaces threaded with amber, coral and lapis lazuli.

 

Sterling Silver Puzzle Rings .. but I also sell them from Maryland.

 

Leather goods .. coats, etc., are classy and inexpensive and Istanbul is

the center for manufacture of leather goods.

 

Gold .. Gold .. Gold! Gold is the same price world wide .. but the cost

of labor is not! Turkish craftsmen do outstanding work .. 18K and 22K

pieces here are considerably less costly than they are in Europe or the

USA. If you see 14K .. it will be Italian .. there is no craftsmanship

in 14K .. so its not produced in Turkey but it is sold here. You will

see Gold/Jewelry shops on every corner .. signed as " Kuyumcu " . Go to

those the Turks are buying from .. don't follow tourists or the guide.

 

A couple of don't do things .. if you are looking for something and the

merchant doesn't have it .. don't let him take you to his friend's shop

because you will pay more .. you will also have to pay his commission.

Just keep shopping around .. and you'll find what you want.

 

If you were in a rural area .. it would be normal for many folks to

invite you to their home for tea or dinner or even to stay the night ..

but this is not common in the city .. especially on a first meeting ..

so don't allow those who meet you on the street, speaking perfect

English, to get too close to you. Especially in Tepebasi and along the

Istiklal Caddesi (Boulevard) in that area. If they offer to take you to

a small cafe and buy you a coffee or tea and practice their English ..

don't go unless you are with a group. The possibility exists that they

want to slip you a Mickey and make off with your purse .. or the cafe

will present you with a ridiculous bill. This rarely happens .. or at

least its rarely reported .. but there are silver tongue Devils who make

their living in this manner.

 

IF you are traveling with a tour group .. don't stick with only the

hotel menu that is tied into the tour price. Get out and experience the

fish .. great season now .. and you need to have a glass or three of

Raki with the fish. ;-) Have some Iskender Kebab .. thinly sliced meat

from a rotating skewer .. placed over pide bread .. soaked with tomato

sauce and butter .. larp'in gud. Then have some " asure " for dessert ..

made with a variety of fruits, nuts, grains and ROSE HYDROSOL .. also

larp'in gud. Count on gaining a kilo or two and liking it .. Baklava

will help you in that regard. ;-) Don't fear eating in the small cafes

because the odds of one becoming ill due to lack of proper hygiene there

are no more than they are in a 5 Star Hilton or Sheraton Hotel.

 

Don't drink the Tap Water .. drink only bottled water. I .. and the

Istanbul residents can drink it .. but we have built up an immunity to

certain things that tourists haven't .. this is true in most of the

Emerging Market countries of the world.

 

Don't give money to the beggars who approach you .. almost all of them

are healthy and able to work .. and make more in a day than do hard

working folks with a university degree.

 

Don't look just one way when crossing a one way street .. look both ways

because Turks often drive the wrong direction on one way streets. ;-)

 

Don't miss seeing Topkapi .. it and the Grand Mosques are must sees.

 

DO .. enjoy .. relax .. take in the culture and get out and about as

much as you can. I've worked in or visited 40 + countries and its my

opinion that the Turks are right up there at the top when it comes to

showing hospitality to visitors .. foreign or domestic.

 

Do .. gimme a call if you make it to Ankara .. there is much to see

here. I'll send my telephone number in another post.

 

Again .. BARGAIN .. always BARGAIN .. even in the Gold shops. The price

on an item is NEVER the price they expect to get.

 

> In terms of essential oils, and hydrosols, etc.

 

I covered the things you could find .. cause I knew when I got to this

part I was gonna have to disappoint you. :-( Odds of you finding a

single bottle of a pure .. quality .. Essential Oil or Hydrosol any

place in Istanbul .. are about as good as one being able to find an

honest politician any place in the world. Very few Turks are into

Aromatherapy .. the villagers do use EO and Hydrosols but they make

their own in a crude fashion and use them differently than we do.

 

You might see some shops called " Lokman Hekim " .. its a chain named

after a legendary medical doctor .. they are Herb & Spice shops and

offer little bottles of Essential Oils. Those Essential Oils are

extremely LOW in quality and extremely HIGH in price .. in those

shops .. you might even find some oils that don't exist. ;-)

 

You might see fellows selling Rose Oil outside the mosques .. it is NOT

Rose Otto .. it is Rose Fragrance Oil. The seller is not trying to

stick it to the buyers .. he doesn't know the difference and the buyers

don't care.

 

> If you please send me some hints I'd apreciate a lot.

 

Did my best .. if you want quality EO .. order from folks on this list.

Brazil is actually pretty close to Friendsville, Maryland. ;-)

 

> Sorry about English spelling.

 

Hawhawhaw. Your use of the English language is perfect .. better than

90% of the American Rednecks (like me). ;-)

 

> Ane* from Brasil ;>)

 

And .. odds are good that few Americans can even begin to speak

Portuguese .. so saluting you I am. :-P

 

Y'all have a good one .. and keep smiling. :-)

 

Butch http://www/AV-AT.com

 

PS: Here are some nice photos of Istanbul and other places in Turkey.

Chris Ziegler (List Mom) took them during her two trips to Turkey.

http://www.av-at.com/stuff/triptoturkey.html