Saturday

After an at home morning, I went to Besiktas, to go the haberdashers for more embroidery silks . This was my goal last Saturday too, when I fell while rushing for the ferry, so today there was no rushing and I took the shorter walk just to the bus stop instead of the ferry. Not so beautiful, but safer. The black eye is almost gone but I was still wary walking on Istanbul pavements.

Today's photo, sadly not clearly focussed, shows just one corner in an establishment that I just don't know what to name. Emporium? The outside - antique copper pots and pans and everyday items from a bygone era, was my blip a couple of weks ago, (here) and today I went inside.  Every available space was laden with oriental items, semi precious stones, antique silver jewelry, Venetian masks, antique and vintage ornaments, craft jewelry, carved jade, carnival junk, souvenir tat, Turkish ceramics, old toys, and general home making bric a brac from days gone by. On and on, shelves wide and deep, and the floor too,  tiny ornaments - shepherdesses and buddhas piled indiscriminantly on top of each other in some sort of crazy early C20th art installation.  I can't imagine they sell very much, they'd probably make more money from selling entry tickets as I'm sure I can't be the only passer by to be lured in to look at this Aladdin's cave.

From Besiktas I took the bus to Ortakoy for some needs-must shopping, and by 16.00 was ready for the bus back to Kurucesme and the short walk home, via the bakkal (mini market) for bread, beer and some of their beautiful soft ripe peaches and apricots that are so delicious now. 

Out and about in 32ºC with high humidity required recovery in the form of a long long shower and a quiet evening of embroidery and Netflix.