The Book Club discussion

This thread is for discussion through Chapter 6: Büyükada (283 - 341, about 60 pp.).

This video is about 7 min long, but it is lovely contrast with Laleli. For some reason, it reminds me of Red Bank, partly because of the upscale ambiance, but perhaps also because I once did a garden tour in RB with elegant grounds and foliage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1Ywqi...



"Büyükada (Turkish, meaning 'Big Island') is the largest island among the Princes’ Islands in the Marmara Sea. It covers an area of 5.4 km², and the distance of the island to the nearest Maltepe shore is 2.3 km...."

http://www.visit2istanbul.com/buyukad...

Link has more description and pictures.

Numerous lovely slides of Büyükada:

http://istanbulresimleri.net/istanbul...

A little awkward to view because positioning keeps moving, at least it did for me.

At the Grand Bazaar. Relevant excerpt from p. 294: (view spoiler)[

“So they won’t be looking for that. Give me fifteen minutes, then go downstairs.” “Why the Bazaar? Why not somewhere over here?” “Because it’s easy to get lost in the Bazaar. Everybody does. So they won’t be surprised when they lose you.”

Kanon, Joseph (2012-05-29). Istanbul Passage. (p. 294). Simon & Schuster, Inc. Kindle Edition.

(hide spoiler)]

http://www.turkeytravelresource.com/v...

From the above site: "...The bazaar contains two bedestens (domed masonry structures built for storage and safe keeping), the first of which was constructed between 1455 and 1461 by the order of Sultan Mehmet the Conquerer.The bazaar was vastly enlarged in the 16th century, during the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, and in 1894 underwent a major restoration following an earthquake..."

"Other sections of the Grand Bazaar: The architectural design of the roads making up other sections apart from the two bedestens is not symmetrical and geometrical; it has a scattered nature due to its formation which took many centuries with new parts being added. In this way, it stays away from the closed bazaar style of the West and has a character of an Oriental bazaar. This laid back settlement and scattered nature prevents the bazaar from being dull, and at the same time gives it a romantic flavour. Such a complicated structure and settlement not only maintains the monumental state of the bazaar, but also makes it a palace for shopping...."