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Shopping
What should you be looking for? Carpets A quick distinction between a carpet and a Kilim - a carpet is knotted, a kilim is woven and has no pile. Both originate from Nomad dwellings where they were used as wall and floor coverings. Age rarity and the number of knots per square centimetre influence the price of carpets. The carpet sellers rely on touch to assess the quality of each as well as the history of it. Many handmade carpets are made of silk, then the handmade ones usually ending with the less expensive being the factory made ones. Jewellery - gold This is normally sold by the weight with an addition for the craftsmentship. If in doubt, the current gold price should be displayed in the shop and if not, it will be in the local paper. The gold is often the 18 or 14 carat type, therefore being much softer than you would buy in the U.K. as it is a purer gold, also it's a slightly different colour. There is usually a great choice and if you have any repairs on the jewellery you have, have it altered in Turkey for a fraction of the cost and time that it would be done at home. They often will clean it for you free of charge as well! Jewellery - silver Silver is of good value too and often hand-crafted. Clothes Turkey exports huge amounts of cotton clothes for the fashion market in Europe. Everything from t-shirts to jeans. Next time you go shopping in the high street in the UK, look at the label and you will often find that it is made in Turkey. Probably because the tailors are so good. They are especially good at recreating any clothes that you may want another of. Leather and suede Jackets, handbags and coats are of great value and the quality is usually superb at a fraction of the cost elsewhere. Choose from a selection of styles and even colours. Also leather shoes, and belts are good value. Crystal/Ceramics Crystal is appealing and cheap and in every touristic area you will find a selection of handmade ceramic plates and dishes (usually made in Kutayha). Often you'll find alongside these an assortment of painted ceramic tiles that can be used as decorative mats under tea pots. Spices and herbs  A huge range of every one imaginable. For example thyme, cinnamon, mint, cumin and a good buy is saffron. Try to buy these from places where they are covered or in packets so as to have them at the very best possible quality. Figs and dried apricots are a good buy too as well as the hazelnut - a huge Turkish export. That comes from the Black Sea. Try the Turkish tea, which you may become accustomed to during your stay or if not try the teas in flavours of orange, lemon or mint, to name a few. Turkish Delight Turkish Delight (lokum) comes in a variety of flavours. Mint, orange, pistachio and rose to name a few. You can buy it in ready prepared packets or mix up your own in a box. Just remember not to buy too much for friends at home, as it can become extremely heavy stuff to carry. Always try some flavours before you buy. Copper and Onyx Copper and Onyx is a good buy. It comes in a variety of objects. Samovars, trays, teapots and decorative small swords. Onyx turns up everywhere - vases and ornaments alike. Meeschaum, a white claylike mineral, is carved into pipes and figurines. There are many other things to buy - bed linen, tablecloths, watches, towels to name just a few. Try buying some Turkish wine, Turkish liquors or brandy or the local drink called Raqi (an aniseed drink which, when mixed with water, becomes a lethal potion). Make sure you eat some food whilst dring it! So, to conclude, enjoy browsing and souvenir hunting and remember only to haggle if there is no fixed price! |
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