On Day 4, after lunch, we walked toward Hagia Sophia, one of the highlights of Istanbul... to find it closed. That sucked. But the Blue Mosque was right across from it, so we went there. It was big, and pretty cool. But it wasn't blue. It might have been a long time ago, but it isn't now. That sucked.
After that, we went to the Bazaar again. I tried looking for the Australian woman who liked my singing, but she wasn't around. So we went shopping again. Gabe and I both wanted to buy those awesome Turkish flag t-shirts, so we went to one stand that had them in a girl's fit. They told us it would cost 25 lyra. In my head I was like "Hell no!" And told him two for twenty. Then he gave me this spiel about how the shirt was supposed to be made in Turkey and therefore worth the money. I did not budge on the price I wanted. After some dirty looks and walking away tactic, I got the items at the price I wanted. But not before being called a gypsy. You know what? I'll take it as a complement. (The thing is, if you start at the highest price you're willing to pay, you have to play stubborn. You can't raise to meet the middle, otherwise you know you're overpaying. I am completely aware that I made no friends today.)
(I would like to recap things I've been called or mistaken as. 1) As a local in Spain by a SAS Student 2) As a half-black by the in-laws in Italy 3) As a student from Madrid in Greece (granted that's what I get for following Veronica...) 4) As a Samoan person from a teacher on the ship 5) As part-Chinese by Lea the bartender 6) As a gypsy. There's also the housekeeper lie, but that's my own alias. Who am I?)
We also looked at tiny metal drums, not unlike the one Amr plays at home, albeit smaller. There was this particularly good sounding one that cost about twenty five lyra I think, and ultimately we had it down to fifteen lyra. But Hang was like "ten lyra only" and walked away. When the salesman interrogated me about buying it some more, and why I listened to Hang, I said jokingly, "I love her anyway" as I walked away. (I must emphasize the word, jokingly. I'll admit I had feelings for her, but no longer. EDIT 8/21/2011: You can tell by the events that unfolded that this line was an absolute lie.) He came back at me with "Change your path." I'll remember that.
... Wait a sec, If I buy shirts at ten, I would've been willing to pay fifteen lyra for a musical instrument... oh well, I'm going shopping for musical instruments today with Victor anyway, so I got one more shot.
We also tried to look for kids to buy little tops from. Gabe and I were impressed by this one kid we met two days before who could have the top spin in his hand and on his head. Knowing the price that kid tried to sell me tops at, 3 for 5, I found another kid who I talked into selling at that price. It took a little more back and forth though, this kid was older. I figure it will be a nice gift for Rica, Katrina, and Kiko. Gabe also bought tops, but Hang was doing his haggling, and they got it at 4 for 10. ... Did my stubborn attitude get a better price than the notorious Hang? Glory be.
So really, the one thing to know with haggling is to go into the haggling ring with two things in mind- 1) What do you want. and 2) How much you are willing to spend for it. Do not allow yourself to settle for any price more than you are willing to pay for. And be willing to walk away if the salesman can't give you the price you want. Especially in the bazaar, if one salesman is not willing to sell you something at your price, odds are you can find it someone else who is willing, unless you're asking for something for free. You should also be a girl, my prices are low, but the smartest, most beautiful women could probably shave off two or three lyra. Though I would imagine that any dude willing to drop prices for a woman has an alterior motive, if not a fantasy in his head. It's kind of depressing if you think about it too much. Also, don't walk with white people with American accents, unless their beautiful blonde women or something. Then they absolutely know you're a tourist. Then you already lost.
On another note, don't buy things you don't need or want, and don't stop to talk to salesmen who don't have the things you want. If a salesman talks to you, certainly be friendly, tell them hello, ask how they've been, but simply show them your palm like a stop sign as you walk to politely indicate you're definitely not looking to do business. Keep your feet moving. One girl told me of this one SASer who stopped at every individual that talked to him, and they went through the bazaar at a crawling speed. Same dude also bought a laser pointer for thirty lyra. (They're so cheap in the Philippines I wouldn't even need to haggle, so it really made me cringe.) You're in the bazaar to do business first, socialize second. Keep to the task at hand.
Finally, we went to another mosque. Pardon my lack of eloquence when I try to talk about mosques, the differences between one mosque or another is difficult to tell with my Christian eyes.
In the night, we went back to the Blue Mosque. (Oh my god, really? This port has been such a downer with all the back-tracking.) We ate wraps of chicken and lamb. It wasn't the best preparation I had, it was a bit dry, and it needed sauce. But I also had apple tea with it, which is soothing for my throat, especially when I think I'm catching whatever everyone else is catching... This is what I get for being confined to a small ship with seven hundred people.
In an effort to cheer up Nijad, who had not been her smiling self after we left the ship, I bought this gigantic plastic lollipop. No, we couldn't eat the gigantic lollipop, but inside were a balloon, some crazy glasses, a mirror, and some smaller lollipops. Everyone had particular fun with the balloon, hitting each other. The lollipop might have done the trick, I guess Nijad needed some sugar in her system after fasting all day. It's really hard to sit on the sidelines helplessly while someone seems unhappy, if there's anything I could do to make someone feel better I'm always down on doing it. I'm glad I could help.
Oh, and Happy Ramadan!
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