Istanbul

Istanbul in my eyes is one of THE most beautiful cities in the world. I travel to Turkey at least once every year to keep in touch with my roots. 

It was my Mum's Birthday recently and I treated her to a full week in this amazing city. 

We shopped at the Grand Bazaar,in Nisantasi, Bebek,Laleli....we shopped and that's pretty much what we did 50% of the time. The other 50% we spent sampling the wide array of Turkish as well as Ottoman cuisine and visited some of the most famous and most beautiful sites this grand city has to offer. 

I am listening to Istanbul by Orhan Veli

 I am listening to Istanbul, intent, my eyes closed;

 At first there blows a gentle breeze
 And the leaves on the trees
 Softly flutter or sway;
 Out there, far away,
 The bells of water carriers incessantly ring;
 I am listening to Istanbul, intent, my eyes closed.

 I am listening to Istanbul, intent, my eyes closed;
 Then suddenly birds fly by,
 Flocks of birds, high up, in a hue and cry
 While nets are drawn in the fishing grounds
 And a woman's feet begin to dabble in the water.
 I am listening to Istanbul, intent, my eyes closed.

 I am listening to Istanbul, intent, my eyes closed.
 The Grand Bazaar is serene and cool,
 A hubbub at the hub of the market,
 Mosque yards are brimful of pigeons,
 At the docks while hammers bang and clang
 Spring winds bear the smell of sweat;
 I am listening to Istanbul, intent, my eyes closed.

 I am listening to Istanbul, intent, my eyes closed;
 Still giddy since bygone bacchanals,
 A seaside mansion with dingy boathouses is fast asleep,
 Amid the din and drone of southern winds, reposed,
 I am listening to Istanbul, intent, my eyes closed.

 I am listening to Istanbul, intent, my eyes closed.
 Now a dainty girl walks by on the sidewalk:
 Cusswords, tunes and songs, malapert remarks;
 Something falls on the ground out of her hand,
 It's a rose I guess.
 I am listening to Istanbul, intent, my eyes closed.

 I am listening to Istanbul, intent, my eyes closed;
 A bird flutters round your skirt;
 I know your brow is moist with sweat
 And your lips are wet.
 A silver moon rises beyond the pine trees:
 I can sense it all in your heart's throbbing.
 I am listening to Istanbul, intent, my eyes closed.

Shopped till we nearly dropped