Friday was the last full day of our tour of Turkey, which was the return trip to Istanbul from Safranbolu. We stopped at one of the rest areas for a bio-break and for snacks. The rest areas have a store that sell snacks and beverages. However, many of the rest areas around Turkey, also have stores that sell other merchandise. This rest had stores that sell clay pots and furniture, so of which are shown in this image.
Rest Area Store, No 1
Also on sale were various fruits and nuts. In the following image, I captured a display of hazelnuts, walnuts and almonds. During our tour, we visited many rest areas that had similar nuts on sale.
Rest Area Store, No 2
This rest area also had an extensive selection of Turkish delight candies and Baklava on sale, that are captured in the image below.
Rest Area Store, No 3
We arrived in Istanbul, crossing the Bosphorus Bridge, and arriving at the Golden Horn hotel. This was the same hotel from which we had departed two weeks earlier. Soon after checking in to the hotel, Angela, Julie and I headed for the Spice Bazaar that was close by, in Eminonu. We stopped by one of the spice vendors that was recommended to us. This vendor also had a selection of various teas for sale.
Spice Bazaar Teas, Istanbul
I was fascinated by the balls of Jasmine Tea that I captured below.
Big Jasmen Tea, Spice Bazaar
Here are the spices that were on display.
Spices, Spice Bazaar, Istanbul
Walking through the bazaar, we passed by a booth where the vendor was selling a colorful variety of soaps.
Soaps, Spice Bazaar, Istanbul
Leaving the bazaar, we headed for the Eminonu waterfront. Angela was fascinated by this roast chestnut vendor.
Roast Chestnut Vendor
This vendor was busy organizing the chestnuts into neat and tidy pyramids for display.
Organizing Roast Chestnuts
Following this weekend was the one of the Turkish holidays, so there were crowds of people in the bazaar and surrounding area. The gardens outside the bazaar was full of people of all ages. In the following image, I captured a pebble bed surrounding one of the trees. The design in the pebbles represents the shape of tulips which are the Turkish national flower.
Gardens Outside Spice Bazaar
Two ladies were deep in conversation at the edge of the tulip bed.
Ladies Outside Spice Bazaar
We stopped at the Eminonu waterfront. Moored at the waterfront were several boats that functioned as floating kitchens.
Floating Kitchens, Istanbul
The main food prepared in theses kitchens are grilled fish sandwiches. The cooks grill the fish in the floating kitchen. Sandwich orders are taken from the shore, prepared by the cooks and eaten in the dining area on shore.
Fish Grill, Floating Kitchen, Istanbul
At the lower level of the Galata Bridge, several workers were sitting in line, taking a break at the end of the day. Several workers were dressed in distinctive bright orange clothes that caught my attention in the following image.
Workers Taking A Break At End Of The Day, Istanbul
Soon it was time to return to our hotel, where we would regroup for the final dinner with our tour group and Tolga our tour guide. This was the conclusion of our tour group.