Spice market and more

We were lucky to have sun on Saturday morning for our little expedition through the markets, and everyone else seemed to be out and about that day, too. I knew from my last visit that it is kind of fun to pick a path out of the Grand Bazaar, which, by the way, has over 3,000 shops, and meander down the hill to the spice market. 

This is where you will find streets for wholesale goods from jewelry components, to purses, backpacks and men's stuff, including guns and camouflage clothing! Just pick a street, and you may be surprised by what you find. Of course, many merchants will also be happy to sell individual items, so you don't have to purchase in bulk.

Need chain? They have it! 

And every other jewelry component you can imagine...

Felt and ribbons, buttons and beads

Various colored rosebuds

Three kinds of pepper. Now we are getting to the cavernous spice market.

Dried fruits, nuts and Turkish delight in a myriad of flavors like rose, mint and orange tempt at every turn.

And nearly every imaginable spice is available to buy. 

Dried peppers and some strange black mushroom?

Natural sponges and loofah.

Olives, of course.

And more pickled things

Grape leaves, anyone? 

Wish I could sample it all...

And finally, a very attractive display of Turkish sweets.

Tired and hungry, we fought the crowds to find a spot for lunch.

And hear the call to prayer from the mosque next door. It looks like rain, so time to catch the tram back to our hotel.