Rick Steves' Europe
Travel Bites 932: Istanbul's Grand Main Drag, Istiklal Caddesi
Clip | 4m 38sVideo has Closed Captions
The best way to feel the pulse of urban Istanbul is to explore its teeming main boulevard.
The best way to feel the pulse of urban Istanbul is to explore its teeming main boulevard—shop for a silk scarf, nibble on street food, and window shop lost in a parade of Turkish diversity.
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Rick Steves' Europe
Travel Bites 932: Istanbul's Grand Main Drag, Istiklal Caddesi
Clip | 4m 38sVideo has Closed Captions
The best way to feel the pulse of urban Istanbul is to explore its teeming main boulevard—shop for a silk scarf, nibble on street food, and window shop lost in a parade of Turkish diversity.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship[music playing] The best way to feel the pulse of urban Istanbul is to explore its teeming main shopping boulevard, Istiklal Caddesi, or Independent Street.
Offering a parade of local culture, it was born after a devastating fire in 1870.
The Ottoman government took the opportunity to rebuild the area as a showpiece of the European style.
The message?
Look West.
The fine old architecture is a reminder that this street was home to the city's Europe-oriented elite back in the 19th century.
Even today, Istanbul's churches and foreign consulates are in this district.
It's just teeming with people.
I love to lose myself in this river of humanity.
And it's lined with shopping temptations.
This fine shop sells silk scarves, made in Turkey, of course.
--these designs with the tulips.
Tulip is the touch-- Wow, that's great.
This pattern is so beautiful.
Turks know how to spiff up their look with a scarf, around the neck or as a head covering.
And if you want to go to the mosque, which scarf would you wear, and how would you wear it?
If I went to mosque, I wear the long one, like this.
It's enough for me.
Like this.
So you say enough for you.
Every woman will choose how much modesty-- Of course.
If she is religious, also, she can wear like this, in square one, for example.
If she's very religious?
Yeah.
She can put a pin here.
Then she do it like this.
She can put it here.
So this is an accessory to cover the hair.
Yes.
So true to the culture, and easy to pack, a silk scarf makes a nice souvenir.
And the street offers an enticing parade of taste treats.
Doner means revolving.
And you know why when tempted by a doner kebab.
You can try the sesame rings, called simit, along with your tiny Turkish vocabulary.
[speaking turkish] One ring, please.
And for a fast meal with no language barrier, ever present cafeteria style restaurants offer a can-can of fresh and traditional Turkish food.
You'll choose from a range of classic Turkish dishes.
I'm having cabbage rolls, lamb chops, and potatoes.
And something I always look forward to, my go-to yogurt drink here in Turkey, ayran, and my favorite dessert, rice pudding, or sutlac.
But on this street, rice pudding is just the first of many sweet temptations.
Popping into this baklava bakery, it's hard to resist such a festival of honey-soaked delights.
Hey, look at this!
Generations of local chocolate salesmen have worked this little station, peddling a variety of Turkish treats.
There's a lot of different flavors.
Yes, we have hazelnuts and pistachios and dark chocolate and milk chocolate.
Today, Holly loves to give samples.
OK, this is the pistachio we're tasting now.
This one?
Yes.
What do you like best?
Them both.
[laughs] Everything's good.
And to really earn your dessert, try getting some ice cream from this guy.
[laughs] He's from Kahramanmaras, a town in Southeast Turkey famous for its toffee-like ice cream.
While delicious, it doesn't come easy for anyone.
[speaking turkish] Chocolate!
Thank you.
[laughs] Oh.
That's nice.
Thank you.
For more information, visit RickSteves.com.
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