The oldest & the largest market in the world

#markets What a maze of a market and overwhelming experience. This market in Istanbul is known to be amongst the oldest and largest in the world. And it is sure to leave your senses numb. So many colors and repetitions of shops selling carpets, ceramics, gems, spices and textiles. Everywhere you look around are shops and it goes on and on till you exhaust yourself and have had enough smells of spices and smoke. From experience, it wasn't the most affordable of places. Surely I'm told it takes a 70-80% price bargain. Also, should you show the slightest of interest. Prepare for the extremely persistent seller to come at you. I did manage to buy some confectionaries, which were sweeter and priced higher than elsewhere. But such an interesting experience visually. I loved watching the employees rush around the huge place with the ubiquitous Turkish apple tea to shop owners and customers in their gorgeous, yet utilitarian, tea caddies. The early hours of the day are known to be a better time to visit with less crowds and hard sell. Since alcohol is forbidden due to religious reasons among the locals. They go extra hard on smoking. I wish this wasn't the case as I personally did find the smell a bit overwhelming.The spice market and the wholesale market outside the bazaar might have better prices. #markets #100waysoftravel #myhiddengems #istanbul #grandbazaar