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Turkey

Istanbul

People

Of all the things to do when traveling, people watching is easily the cheapest and most enjoyable way to get an idea of what life is really like in a place. Turkey is absolutely no exception. Here are a few glimpses of the people we saw on our trips:

On our ferry trip up the Bosphorus, we saw many fairly typical scenes: a fisherman taking a break, a woman resting while doing her laundry, 3 generations of family waiting for the next boat, and a net-repair crew hard at work.

Getting ready to serve a sizzling doner kebab

Keeping the coals nice and hot

And a whirling dervish performs for the empty seats

During the evenings of Ramadan, the streets come alive and the shops are busy. Above, a juicer squeezes an orange for a drink while a hookah hawker rustles up business.

Giving change back on a purchase

Making homemade wrap bread

Taking an order for swirled candies

During the day, other sorts of professions make their way into the limelight

A spiced tea seller in front of the Hagia Sopia (left), a roadside weaver sets up her stand (above), and a carpet weaver brings his wares to the shop (below) where a patient salesman waits for the day's first customer (below, left).

In fact, I found the theme of "carpet salesman doing crossword puzzle" to be repeated quite often across the city

I wonder if those three all went shawl-shopping at the same stand

Of course, the dervishes aren't the only dancers in town. One night at dinner, as strolling minstrels played from table to table, a couple of girls decided they wanted to join in.

Appropriating decorations from a basket that the restaurant just happened to have lying around, they started shimmying and shaking to the roaring approval of the patrons.

Talk about dinner and a show!!

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