PLAN YOUR TRIP - Istanbul - page 61

TEXTILES
Turkey's southeast region is known for its textiles, and there are examples aplenty on
show in the Grand Bazaar ( CLICK HERE ). You can also find top-quality cotton, linen and
silk there.
Collectors of antique textiles will be in seventh heaven when inspecting the decorative
tribal textiles that have made their way here from Central Asia. These are often sold in
carpet shops.
TURKISH DELIGHT
Lokum (Turkish Delight) makes a great present for those left at home, but is even better to
scoff on the spot. It's sold in speciality shops around the city and comes in flavours in-
cluding cevizli (walnut), fıstıklı (pistachio), bademli (almond) and roze (rosewater). Ask
for a çeşitli (assortment) if you want to sample the various types.
The Dying Art of Bargaining
The elaborate etiquette of the Ottoman Empire lingers in many day-to-day rituals still ob-
served in its greatest creation, İstanbul. Until recently, the art of bargaining was one of
these. Times have changed, though, and these days the non-negotiable price-tag reigns su-
preme in most of the city's retail outlets. Here, as in many former stops along the le-
gendary Silk Route, the days of camel caravans have long gone, supplanted by multina-
tional retailers, sleek supply-chain management and an increasingly homogeneous shop-
ping experience.
Perhaps the only exception to this rule can be found in the city's carpet shops, particu-
larly those located in the Grand Bazaar ( CLICK HERE ). Many of these still take pride in
practising the ancient art of bargaining.
If you are visiting İstanbul and are keen to buy a carpet or rug in the bazaar, keep the
following tips in mind:
» The 'official' prices here have almost always been artificially inflated to allow for a bar-
gaining margin - 20% to 30% is the rule of thumb.
» Shopping here involves many aspects of Ottoman etiquette - you will drink tea, ex-
change polite greetings and size up how trustworthy the shopkeeper is. He, in turn, will
drink tea, exchange polite greetings and size up how gullible you are.
» Never feel pressured to buy something. Tea and polite conversation are gratis - if you
accept them, you don't need to buy anything in exchange.
» It's important to do your research. Always shop around to compare quality and pricing.