Balik

This is the first fish restaurant I dined at in Istanbul. Tables are spread all about, in between crumbling buildings and on top of the dirt ground. Hungry alley cats scavenge for scraps that may be dropped by those taking pity on their plight. Its also not uncommon for them to stretch up on the side of your chair and give you a little nudge if you are ignoring them. Hence, everyone ends up feeding them.

My good friend Alexandra led a group of us here after my first adventure through the Grand Bazaar. Although the fish lack seasoning which affects flavor, the final product was tender and delicious. After we paid the bill, we went for a stroll in the tool bazaar and after about fifteen minutes our waiter appeared and charged me with not paying for my meal. Luckily, two Turkish friends set him straight and set him on his way. We were then able to continue admiring shop after shop filled with nothing but tools and other construction materials, no need for home depot in Istanbul.