Egyptian Spice Bazaar, Istanbul

Favorite thing: Stroll through the spice market and pick up an ounce or two of Turkish kebab spice or maybe some Garam Masala to bring back home. Be sure to look around though, taste and smell, as not all spice sellers are equal in quality of offerings. One way to tell the quality of the spices is by looking at the color -- it should be deep, not dull and flat and if a mixture of spices (such as the "kebab spice") look for one with a combination of many ingredients.

Fondest memory: This place was spectacular: you could see birds, flowers, medicine, plastic things, pottery, you name it, they had it! We had the best time there - it was just like a fleamarket!!!