Day 53, 26 August 2012,The Spice Market (aka - the Egyptian Market) - The beauty of a week in Istanbul was the ability to take it nice and slow. Sleep in followed by crusty bread and Nutella (for me) and olives, feta, tomato and cucumber (for James). We followed our tram lines down to the waterfront and then followed our noses to the Egyptian Market or Spice Market. A fraction of the size of the Grand Bazaar and much more manageable as a result! We started out in Animal Alley - I'm sure it has a proper name, but it's on the outer edge of the main bazaar and full of birds, kittens, puppies and even tiny turtles in a tank - so perfect in every regard they looked like little plastic models. It could seem like "who's going to go for a walk and buy a pet?" - but we saw several fish tanks, kitty carriers and bags of dog food being toted around the area. Inside is mainly spices, teas and every form of turkish delight imaginable - at about $7 a kilo all the way through to $35 a kilo. Lots of samples to be had and a small bag of assorted flavours purchased to sustain us as we explored. Probably one of the hottest days during our time in Istanbul - only 35 degrees or so, but very, very humid (unlike the dry mid-forties we encountered in the south of Egypt). We had an apple tea to keep us going and made our way back to Sultanamet via the back streets. We even discovered the Turkish equivalent of a $2 shop in a back street - stocked up on a small sewing kit and a pair of scissors for running repairs - and a snappy haircut for me... wanted to finish the job I started with the $5 hair dye in the hotel bathroom. All good and back to the hotel for a siesta prior to dinner. Our local eatery on Cemberlitas hill, just up from the hotel, does massive plates of mushroom and chicken pasta for about $2 - another few dollars for some chicken off the spit and we are done and dusted for the day. Packing tonight - maybe. Then again - it could probably wait until tomorrow.