You can buy many delicacies and cheap stuff in Istanbul. And if you, like me, love to buy stuff, you’ll never get tired of Istanbul and what the town offers you
In fact, I’d already decided to buy saffron and turkish delight, and I found both. Of course. Saffron and other spices are easily found in the Grand Bazaar, and it’s also here I bought my saffron. I bought 100g saffron.
Then a lot of turkish delight in different flavours, with and without nuts 🙂
Chocolates, tea, and some menthol crystals (if I ever get a cold). And you can buy much more, so don’t hesitate 🙂
Turkish delight lokum from Hafiz Mustafa, Istanbul
The last day in Istanbul was spent on Dolmabahçe Palace and Galata Kulesi.
We first went to Dolmabahçe Palace, the newer palace that has been the residence of the Ottoman Empire from 1857-1887, and from 1909-1922. It is located in the Beşiktaş district of Istanbul, still on the European side. The construction was ordered by the former sultan Abdülmecid I, as he felt that Topkapi Sarayi was lacking in both style, facilities, and comfort, and wanted a more modern, westernized palace. Dolmabahçe Palace was then built, in baroque style.
After a marathon exploring Topkapi Sarayi, Grand Bazaar, and Suleimaniye Mosque, we were practically running on fumes. Clocking in a whopping 13.6 km on foot, we were desperate for a breather before our Bosporus cruise at 8:30 pm. Thankfully, our ride from the hotel to Kabatas for the cruise was sorted, but the boat scene was a different story 😅
Imagine this: a supposed 4-hour cruise package promising dinner and entertainment, but what we got was a comedy of errors. The staff seemed to be in a ‘no-info zone,’ leaving us to play detective for our supposedly included drinks. And get this, despite ‘cocktails included,’ the staff looked more confused than a lost tourist map 😂
And the food? Well, brace yourself for the tasteless ride! As a vegetarian, I thought I’d hit the jackpot with a ‘pizza’ concoction—cue pizza sauce, cheese, tomatoes, and the plot twist—carrots and brown sugar! Yep, you heard it right, the weirdest pizza combo in history! 🫢🫣😬
The startersThe “pizza”
Now, as for the entertainment, it was the saving grace! We grooved to some performances and got our dance on, but let’s face it, we were HUNGRY. Here’s the insider tip: chow down before stepping foot on this cruise ship! Trust me, you’re better off tackling dinner elsewhere. That food? Well, it’s a ‘nope’ from us, unless you’re into mysterious pizza inventions and sad servings! 🫢😬
Following our visits to Hagia Sophia and the Cistern of Philoxenos, we decided to have lunch at Dubb Indian Restaurant, near Hagia Sophia. Not particularly taken by Turkish cuisine, we opted for Indian food once more. I chose the paneer lababdar paired with zaffron rice, and let me tell you, it was an absolute delight! 🤤
