Doujim De American Dragon

ISTANBUL (Part II): A BRIDGE BETWEEN TWO CONTINENTS

The second aspect that has always emphasized the city of Istanbul is the economic, as demonstrated by currently hosting the meeting of the IMF. This commercial vocation is the result largely its privileged location between Europe and Asia, that throughout history has made it so appealing to many empires, which adds to the character of the Turks, eager to do business at every opportunity.

access to the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul (Obtained from wikipedia)

One of the most striking examples of that past and present business is the Grand Bazaar (Kapali Carsi ), an incredibly diverse market hall which occupies 35 hectares of the city of Istanbul, formed by eighty streets and has more than 4500 Stores: the first major shopping center world since it was built in 1464 but had to be reformed after an earthquake in the nineteenth century.

Source at the Grand Bazaar (Istanbul)

I originally had six fountains, mosque and twelve chapels, and other luxuries for his time, but now most customers are tourists still remains a touch union, as their stores are grouped by type of product for sale (gold jewelry, rugs, hookahs ...) as before, and bargaining is still practiced (usually with little luck for the tourists unaccustomed).

textile Street Grand Bazaar (Istanbul)

However, this Bazaar, famous throughout the world, is not the only one of the city and also highlights the Egyptian Bazaar, which maintains its exotic character and a special aroma, thanks to dedicated mostly to the spices, many of them brought from distant places in Asia recalling the ancestral Silk Road , when silk, spices and other luxury items (porcelain, jewelry, etc..) Were transported from China overland to Istanbul before being distributed to Europe by boat in exchange for gold and precious stones .

Since Egyptian Spice Bazaar (Istanbul)

Silk Route originated through the exchanges between the Roman Empire and the Chinese Empire more than 2000 years ago and reached its apogee in the capital of Constantinople in the fourth century. With the advent of Islam, Arabs gained control by the end of the route, making it essential intermediaries and increasing prices for Europeans, while ensuring that vital source of income created to protect the caravan sites located at the distance of a day of transits, called Caravanserais (Kervansarays).

Sultanhani Caravansary (Central Anatolia, Turkey)

in cities instead appeared Han , half palace hostel half caravans. All of them, both khans as Hani, presided at the center by a small mosque, surrounded by rooms intended for different uses (residence, warehouse, stables for camels and other beasts of burden) and walls that surrounded them, protecting products the usual conflicts and attempted looting in such a long journey.

Koza Han Mosque (Bursa, Turkey)

Today, the Silk Road, made famous by Marco Polo books she had her travels to China, has disappeared, but the importance of Istanbul as the midpoint of large amount of goods in transit between Europe and Asia is still a fact, as evidenced by the traffic emorme container shiploads crossing the Bosphorus Strait.

freighter in the Sea of \u200b\u200bMarmara

Photos Juanjo Martínez