Schwartz Illustrated

TURKEY JOURNAL ENTRY

September 3, 2001 (Continued)
ISTANBUL, TURKEY

The Spice Bazaar was one of my favorite places we visited simply because of the energy of the place, the magnificent colors of the spices piled high in bins and the aroma of the spices mixed with coffee that permeated the Bazaar.

Ali was hot to get us to see how Turkish rugs are made. This wasn't high on our list and we knew what the purpose was, but we liked Ali so much we couldn't say no. The next thing we know, we are whisked into a beautiful air-conditioned room and served beverages. Shades of Murano for any of you that know that story. Andrew is loving the royal treatment and wonders why it isn't this way back home.

Four men dressed in identical uniforms enter the room and our salesman starts his pitch. As he speaks, the men roll out rug after rug. After 30 minutes of this, I was prepared to buy anything just to be free! He says, "which one do you want?" The kids jump up and make their choices. Andrew chooses a red rug that must be 20 feet long. He wants this rug to lead the way to his room. I think the whole Sultan thing has gone to his head! Now Mike and I are trying to decide where we will put our rug that we haven't even picked out yet. Andrew is working with the salesman to pressure us and Andrew is invited to come back to Turkey and work for the company when he is 16.

How did this happen? We are now the proud owners of a Turkish rug that we didn't need. Oh, I forgot the rule....say nothing! Now we didn't fall off the turnip truck yesterday. We know Ali gets a piece of the action but he was so nice! That night we ate outside at a restaurant on the Bophorus. The Muslims say prayers five times per day and at approximately 8:30 p.m. the call to prayer is given by the muezzin and it is broadcast from every mosque via loudspeakers in the minarets (towers). I will never forget the haunting sound of the chant.

September 4

In Turkey, when you hire a guide, the guide comes with a driver as well. It would be impossible, in my opinion, to talk and drive in Istanbul at the same time. I was saying silent prayers as we were driven around the city! We were able to hire Ali again and we started the tour by visiting the Dolmabahce Palace. It turned out that on Tuesdays, a group performs music from the time of the Ottoman Empire and the musicians dress up in the clothing of the period. We ended up spending an hour listening to the music and admiring the costumes.

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	TURKEY JOURNAL ENTRY September 3, 2001 (Continued) ISTANBUL, TURKEY The Spice Bazaar was one of my favorite places we visited simply because of the energy of the place, the magnificent colors of the spices piled high in bins and the aroma of the spices mixed with coffee that permeated the Bazaar. Ali was hot to get us to see how Turkish rugs are made. This wasn't high on our list and we knew what the purpose was, but we liked Ali so much we couldn't say no. The next thing we know, we are whisked into a beautiful air-conditioned room and served beverages. Shades of Murano for any of you that know that story. Andrew is loving the royal treatment and wonders why it isn't this way back home. Four men dressed in identical uniforms enter the room and our salesman starts his pitch. As he speaks, the men roll out rug after rug. After 30 minutes of this, I was prepared to buy anything just to be free! He says, "which one do you want?" The kids jump up and make their choices. Andrew chooses a red rug that must be 20 feet long. He wants this rug to lead the way to his room. I think the whole Sultan thing has gone to his head! Now Mike and I are trying to decide where we will put our rug that we haven't even picked out yet. Andrew is working with the salesman to pressure us and Andrew is invited to come back to Turkey and work for the company when he is 16. How did this happen? We are now the proud owners of a Turkish rug that we didn't need. Oh, I forgot the rule....say nothing! Now we didn't fall off the turnip truck yesterday. We know Ali gets a piece of the action but he was so nice! That night we ate outside at a restaurant on the Bophorus. The Muslims say prayers five times per day and at approximately 8:30 p.m. the call to prayer is given by the muezzin and it is broadcast from every mosque via loudspeakers in the minarets (towers). I will never forget the haunting sound of the chant. September 4 In Turkey, when you hire a guide, the guide comes with a driver as well. It would be impossible, in my opinion, to talk and drive in Istanbul at the same time. I was saying silent prayers as we were driven around the city! We were able to hire Ali again and we started the tour by visiting the Dolmabahce Palace. It turned out that on Tuesdays, a group performs music from the time of the Ottoman Empire and the musicians dress up in the clothing of the period. We ended up spending an hour listening to the music and admiring the costumes. < back one page \| to the next page >

	© All Rights Reserved, Mike Schwartz, 2001.