They say you should visit the Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and Grand Bazaar. Since we have a bit more time, we're spreading it out over two days and adding the Spice Market, cruise up the Bosphorus, Taksim Square and Isitklal Street. Things began on an embarrassing note as our guide put up his "Kermit the Frog" umbrella to lead us on to the Topkapi (don't see the 1964 film) Palace. The royal Circumcision Room was packed to capacity so we elected to bypass the Harem. The fountains, panoramic views, kiosks (especially the building dedicated solely to storing the Sultan's turbans) were astonishing -not the 13th Century answer to dual panes windows.
The smells in the Spice (formerly known as the Egyptian) Bazaar were overwhelming. Got some real Turkish coffee to bring home, but did NOT get any leeches which are prescribed for a wide variety of maladies: headaches, sore feet, skin problems... You can get these hungry little suckers TO GO. Didn't we give this up a few hundred years ago?
EEEEwwwwwwwwww....
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