Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Day 61: carpet salesman

Isn't there a saying about carpet salesmen? It didn't take long before some man named Refik was flattering J about the absence of an American accent and guiding us into his shop for apple tea 'just to look.' He studied the liberalist philosophers of the 17th and 18th centuries and launched into a short dissertation about the foundations of democracy before getting to the hard core pitch.

According to Refik, a man should give a woman little gifts all the time. So to me he says, "K, which would you rather have? Leather jacket or carpet?" Well, since you're asking, Refik, I'd prefer a Mac laptop or lasik.

We entertained his spiel for a bit and then declared that we would be leaving. It wasn't even 9 a.m. We hadn't even gotten one block from our hotel.

My favorite line so far has been: "You walk like an expert in carpets." Do I?

3 comments:

Unknown said...

My co-worker (who is from there) said you should:
- take the bosphorous tour from Eminonu. It is a couple of hour tour with the ferry. You stop at the end of the canal, have lunch there and come back.

- definetly eat dinner at Hamdi restaurant.. Great views of golden horn....

- Have to have breakfast in Emirgan.... again this is on the canal european side right on the water near rumeli hisari...

Unknown said...

and on sunday go to the Ortakoy Bazar... Again on eruopean side, you can take the busses..

K said...

Ohmygawd. Hamdi was really wonderful. It rained the duration of our stay so we opted out of the river tour but everyone recommends it. Frowny face.