The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul town,

Is the jewel in the city’s crown.

A covered market, it is quite a sight.

The truly original Turkish delight.

Its a labyrinth of exotic stall after stall.

A 15th century version of a shopping Mall.

Selling Gold, silver, trinkets, and much more,

All sold by a calling turk at each open door

“Eh, inglish mister you look nice,

Let’s haggle I give you best price

This here, is worth a thousand lira

To you 20, if you come a near-a.

Quick look, see how well its made,

Sorry no refund, after you’ve paid.

Look at the colour, look at the sheen.

Please, not to worry of where it has been

Come even closer young English Squire,

See artefacts from the Otterman Empire.

These here are old and genuine gold bands,

Don’t touch, the colour will come off in your hands.

So inglish mister before you end your day,

buy this Turkish carpet and fly away.

Back to England, many miles, very far

and remember our Bazaar is very bizarre.”

I would so love to return in sunshine and see all the sites how they should be seen!

Linda Margaret Bailey

Arriving in Istanbul in the early evening, we strolled along by the Bosphorus, accepted an invitation from an old man to drink tea with him, spent time looking at the world through his eyes. Next morning, we woke to the sound of the call to prayer. Everything seemed so exotic and new. The sights. The sounds. The colours. The smells of the spices. The taste of the food. And above all, the friendliness of the people. We spent our days exploring the city streets, admiring the wonders of the Ottoman Empire, savouring REAL Turkish Delight in the bazaars...so many exquisite flavours...

I'd love to go back.

Even if I don't win this prize, now that I've recalled my first trip, I can't wait to plan my second!

Istanbul - the exotic city that bridges East and West

Constantinople in the past, Istanbul of the present

So full of history, art, and different religions to be explored

Spires that inspire, Spices and Souks that fill the senses

Istanbul's Glittering lights illuminating the Bosphorus reflecting 1001 nights of history!

The beach resorts sound great too, and cheaper for drinks and food than many other countries.

I'm looking at a single holiday this year, so can actually do what I want, for a change! And Turkey would be a good place to do just that 🙂

Julie

I'd love to visit this city with others who want the Istanbul experience. And also to share authentic Turkish food with. Every trip surely must also be about the food!

I am really looking forward to visiting Turkey again after a break of around 15 years. It will be very interesting to see the changes that have taken place.

My first visit was in the mid 1980s when,after a period of great instability with the Army in control,democratic elections were held and people began making Turkey a holiday destination again.

The second visit was in the mid 1990s and the final visit around 2000 and I spent seven years there.

Ankara,Istanbul,Izmit and Izmir were the bases for these visits but I was able to visit most other areas including the more remote eastern parts either as part of my job or for holidays including a fantastic sailing venture along the coast from Marmaris.I suppose the Izmit visit was the most memorable since it was the epicentre of a devastating earthquake which I managed to survive.

Turkey is unique. It is where East meets West and Islam meets Christianity. As a holiday destination it provides just about everything,Brilliant summer sunshine,bustling Europeanised life in the major cities,touristic areas as good as any in the Mediterranean with beautiful scenery and beaches and fantastic historical sites. Also with just a little departure from the main routes there is the opportunity to appreciate the simpler village life virtually unchanged over the centuries.

Obviously Turkey is very important to me but I can recommend it to anyone as a holiday destination. The people of this vast country ( an area equal to France and Germany combined ), which stretches from Greece and Bulgaria in the West to Russia ,Iran, Iraq and Syria in the East, are always friendly and welcoming and there are so many things to do and see and a single visit will definitely not be enough !

From the West to the East.

Try a fusion of cultures

Or a fusion of tastes.

Sail on the Bosphorus

Try coffee and spice.

Go from Blue Mosque to bazaar

Or Topkapi to Troy.

See a monument at [/u] Pergamon

Or Istanbul sewers.

Imagine the horrors of Gallipoli

Or meet the gods at Ephesus.

Whirl like a dervish.

Have the time of your life.

I went on a sunshine holiday to Turkey 25 years ago and thought the people were lovely, so friendly and warm hearted......I've wanted to go back ever since and this would be a fabulous trip where I'd feel safe under the guidance of Just You.

Where East meets West.......and who knows the lovely people I could meet on the trip too?

My life ambition now includes a Travelling Tea Towel, as my region registered a flag in 2012 and I want to photograph it in as many iconic places as possible.

I don't simply want to be a tourist. I want to live as other people do, to immerse myself in their culture, speak their language, honour their dress, sample their food, travel their way. I want to respect what has come before around the world, and use that knowledge to shape a better future.

I'm a Doctor Who fan, and wearing a fez in a place known for them would be cool, as Matt Smith says, fezzes are cool. 😉