Salty Lemons

vendor offering me a strawberry at the Fatih Market
Istanbul, Turkey from my 2011 archive

vendor proudly shows off his cabbage at the Fatih Market
Istanbul, Turkey from my 2011 archive

vendor selling phyllo dough sheets at the Fatih Market
Istanbul, Turkey from my 2011 archive

vendor giving me the "shaka sign" at the Fatih Market
Istanbul, Turkey from my 2011 archive

vendor and his spices at the Fatih Market
Istanbul, Turkey from my 2011 archive

September 30, 2011

Fatih Market

Having accomplished nearly all of my to-do list in Istanbul, I set out to find a mosque and a street market off the beaten path. The neighborhood in mind was Fatih and it seemed complicated and easy to reach all at once. It turned out to be both. The planned route would take me through Sultanahmet (Old City), three stops past the furthest one I have been, from there a short walk to a Metro line, one stop, and a short walk to the Fatih mosque and surrounding markets. This all becomes exponentially more difficult once you miss your stop, no one speaks the same language as you, and you have to desperately use the bathroom. I got it together, backtracked to the right stop by walking parallel to the tram tracks, and "felt" my way there.

Prior to venturing to Fatih, I read that it had a more local scene, was more conservative, "so dress accordingly." In the center of Istanbul, you will find a disproportionate number of men than women. When I arrived in Fatih, I realized where all the women were, they were shopping in the market for things like clothing, housewares, and food. Prices were lower, fresh fruit and vegetables outnumbered other items, skirt hems were longer, more women were "covered", and more men were wearing caps. And vendors were more friendly. Understandably, in main tourist areas like the Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar, vendors can have short tolerance levels (tourists are annoying after all, myself included).

The vendors at the Fatih Market were excited to have a foreigner amongst their regulars and no one minded me taking photos of their offerings. Many in fact, asked to have their photo taken. A customer even asked me to photograph he and his daughter. As he scribbled onto a torn piece of a paper bag, I realized he wanted me to email him the photo. I did, and he likes it. He replied.

thankyou for the photo youare wonderfull.

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