Istanbul's Grand Bazaar

Ok, shopaholics...4000 stalls of everything from Turkish sweets to carpets. It is overwhelming. The Kapali Carsi is one of the world's oldest and largest covered bazaars, attracting nearly half a million people a day. Opening in 1471, it is a place for Westerners to learn bargaining skills. I bought a carpet from the man pictured here. We had tea, showed me many carpets, and finally when I liked one he said: "800 Euros" - for a 3' by 5' silk turkish carpet. gulp... with daughter Malia's help we got that down to 200 Euros and probably could have negotiated less. The bazaar was lively, interesting, and exhausting. And i came away with some really unique treasures.