Everyone needs a daily dose of color and pattern inspiration. BigBrightBold inspires and delights through showcasing colorful places, spaces and things.
After marveling at the piles of sun-dried fruits and fresh nuts, we ventured inside the Spice Bazaar stalls. The merchants let us sample a variety of flavors, with the pomegranate pieces being my favorites. Traditional Turkish delights resemble gelatinous candy powdered with sugar. I particularly enjoyed the powder dusted fruit sticks made of the fruit molasses (eg. plum, blackberry) with whole pistachio nuts hidden inside.
October 15, 2013 
The Spice Bazaar sells a lot more than spices, but I was of course focused on the intricate displays of exotic foods. Pyramids of colorful spices, powdered turkish delights, dreid fruits and delicious desserts lined the stalls.
Delicious istanbul writes, "It is mind-boggling to think that life and trade have been bustling under the high domed roof of the Istanbul Spice Market for the past 350 years. A few centuries ago it was a marketplace for goods brought from Egypt (hence the other name of the market – Egyptian Bazaar) that included spices, medicinal herbs, aromatic incenses, fragrant essential oils and such. With the possibly the same range that dragged merchants of the Western world to buy goods imported from the East back then it still attracts city visitors looking for Iranian saffron, Indian curry, Chinese flower tea, Turkish delight, Russian caviar. Foreigners coming to buy foreign goods – that’s what the Istanbul Spice Market has always been about."
October 15, 2013 
Stepping inside the modern, inviting shop, we were greeted with the fresh scent of spa products. The shop displays its bath products - towels, robes, soaps, scrubs - next to gorgeous ceramics and contemporary Iznik tiles. The owner sells high quality textiles that are a real value in a shop that is bright and clean.
Turkey is know for its fine towels, and towels at Arasta Bazaar's Ata Textiles are top of the line. Rich cotton is woven into colorful stripes in all shapes and sizes. Known for being highly absorbent and lightweight, the towels can also double as throws or even blankets. There are so many choices in so many palettes. I only wish we could order these luxurious goodies stateside!
October 14, 2013 
When researching Istanbul's top places for shopping, I couldn't believe that one of the most highly recommended destinations was literally two blocks from our boutique hotel.
The Arasta Bazaar is known for being a destination for finer arts and craft products in the historic quarter. Yes, certain shops are filled to the brim with the evil eyes and magic lamps (which we did buy!). But, certain vendors do sell more unique items: gilded manuscripts, Kilim carpets, Ikat pillows, and Turkish towels to name a few. (See Ata Textiles here). It's definitely a hassle free place to stroll (way less hectic than the Grand Bazaar) where quality products are curated and displayed.
October 14, 2013 
Usually I'm not a fan of landscape paintings, but these colorful interpretations of Istanbul's architecture caught my eye. Cemal Toy is the artist behind the whimsical, intimate worlds. The buildings are playful and somewhat abstract, the paintings layered with color and texture. I love the simplicity of form and the complexity of layering. The paintings portray the vibrant rooftops of istanbul: ancient spires, cuppolas, and towers juxtaposed densely together just like in the real deal. The scenes burst with color, setting a magical mood for this magical city.
October 13, 2013