Spice Girl.

One benefit of the Bosphorus cruise is that you end up where you started, right in Eminönü.  What this means to foodies (and non-foodies) is the Istanbul Misir Carsisi, the old Egyptian Market (Misir mean Egypt and coincidentally  "corn" -- the food on a cob). This is the holy grail of markets -- the famous spice market. It's big, it's bustling and it's an amazing photo experience. Every spice you can imagine (and some I've never heard of) is represented here. 

But it's not all spices -- it's food (nuts, dried fruits),  typical bazaar stuff -- knickknacks, souvenirs. What comes with these all these stalls selling are the owners of the shops, each wanting you to "give me a chance" to sell you their wares. Nothing turns me off from shopping than someone forcing me to do it. Besides, I still have spices I brought back from my Morocco adventure in 2001 (now they are just souvenirs -- I promise I'll throw them away when I get home). And a friend, recently returned from India, brought me some fresh spices I still haven't broken into). 

Spices have a limited shelf life. They don't get rancid or anything, they just become dull. And dull spices, like dull people, just aren't that desirable. 

Still, the spice market Misir Carsisi is worth the visit. If you don't buy the spices (or candy, nuts or dried fruits), or anything else here, don't worry, you'll find it again and again and again at every farmer's maket, street corner, other bazaar or little shop, all over town. 

On the periphery of the market you can buy live birds, bunnies, guinea pigs and other assorted pets and pet paraphernalia, as well as