Istanbul or Constantinople?

I had the opportunity to visit Istanbul during a very short stop over on my way home from France. We were there for less than 48 hours but managed to see and do quite a bit. I must say that I was very impressed by Istanbul and definitely plan to go back. The city was much more European in design and feel than I had expected. It’s a big cosmopolitan city and there are three main areas to consider when looking for a hotel – the Europe and Asia sides and then on the Europe side choosing between the two banks of the Golden Horn. We chose to stay in the old city with its proximity to the major tourist sites given our limited time. The neighborhood of Sirkeci was very close (easy walking distance) to the Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar. We easily did these sites in two days.

While in the old city we had an opportunity to visit the old Spice Bazaar. The bazaar has been in existence since 1660 and is the largest in Istanbul. It’s still one of the major places where residents buy their spices, though a lot more is sold there now – like candy and souvenirs. It’s a busy and crowded place but full of color and life. Many of the stalls are located in the covered building which has beautiful architecture and tile work on the inside. The bazaar is affiliated with the mosque next door so some of the revenues are used to support the upkeep of the building. If you go, please remember to barter when buying something. Prices are inflated and it’s expected!

Spice Market, Istanbul