My friend, you look Turkish.

     Now, I wasn't really bothered by locals peddling their wares at the Spice Market, but I do want to mention a tactic that was used routinely.  Not just there, but all over any tourist area of Istanbul I visited.

     That "you" look Turkish.  Yes. Me.  You.  The blonde German girl and her friends.  The three Japanese girls.  It goes like this:

"Hello my friend.  Where are you from?"
     I try to make a non-commital grunt at this point. Preferably barely moving my lips, but just enough to appear I gave an answer.
"Ah. America (or whatever country fits for you. They just guess anyhow)."
"But you know, you look Turkish."
     At this point, you are still walking and cruising past them, but they try to fall in step.  For me, I'm thinking they are just foolish sales people.
    Clearly they can see my hairy wrists and knuckles.  And neck hair.  And if that was all they were comparing it from, then sure.  I'm hairy like Turk men.  I see the confusion.  So are a bunch of you.

But if there are blue-eyed, brown-haired Turks, I haven't seen them anywhere.

     The good news is that "Not wanted" or "No chance" really takes care of it.  Even better if you utter it to them in Turkish.  Istemez! or something like that.

     The smells in the Spice Market were amazing.  A combination of spices, dried fruits, Turkish delight.  If I could package it, I would.  If I see it packaged however, I will probably avoid it.

     Tonight is spaghetti with tomato sauce night here at the hostel.  You'd think... must be spaghetti with tomato sauce.  I'd say you would be jumping to conclusions, and really should wait to see what is on the plate.  Their spaghetti with tomato sauce will probably be udon noodles with whole steamed tomatoes sitting on it, or something equally as confusing.

     In the meantime, before the great spaghetti adventure, I'm going out for a kebab.  Always a safe choice.  I'll leave you with a picture of stray cats.

Stray cats.  They are all this pretty, actually.  No ratty/ matted fur. Just a bunch of clean, well-fed strays. Everywhere.