Istanbul day seven

 Today had a relaxing start. Kivilcim mentioned it there wasn’t much to do and suggested I may want to head off into the city. After some discussion, it was decided that Reshat and I would go to handle some of his errands together.

He took us in his truck to the Metro and we got out for the grand bazaar. He’s tall and walks quickly. Right now he’s in a particular rush to change money and deposit it in the bank before they close for the day. He whips through the crowded bazaar very fast and I almost have trouble keeping up. An Istanbul native, he knows every twist and turn in the place. When we get to an intersection and sees a crowd, he darts in the opposite direction for some hidden passage nobody else seems to see. I pass millions of dollars of gold, jewelry, and (well) dollars.

I don’t remember what this was. We were moving at thirty miles an hour 

We arrive at the money changing section of the market and walk to his changer’s store. They have a good rate and a long line, mainly to handle bulk transactions the other changers don’t handle. People are walking in with dollars and leaving with bricks of Lira. Literal bricks. In the US we have bands, since the stacks are larger here for the same value of currency the banded stacks are strapped together with the same thick bailing plastic used on the outside of large heavy boxes. One man looks like he’s off to build a Lego house. After the change, we sprint to the bank and make the cutoff.

Same here

Our next stop was to an optometrist on the other side of the Bosporus. We hop a train and zip underneath the water, packed in like sardines. It’s rush hour but at least the fare is cheap, about a dollar US. We arrive in Kadikoy and walk to the glasses store to pick up contact prescriptions for the family. Rashad knows the staff and we stay to chat. A tray of tea appears and some of it comes my way. Turkey only has one kind of tea but it is everywhere and constant. There’s something to be said for the pervasiveness you get in exchange for a lack of variety.

We cross the strait again and get back to the house in time for dinner. Kivilcim’s mom has prepared something lovely. Sliced roasted eggplant wrapped around chunks of beef. A good way to end a long and active day.