Ortakoy Pazar — Local services in Beşiktaş

Not much here but tourist trap sales of touristy things. No serious vendors of much of anything. Impressive collection of vendors all selling the same thing: potato skins with various edible things inside. The view of the water, and bustle of the adjoining pier, make it a spectacle to be enjoyed, briefly. The mosque is yet another fantastic building. We were lucky enough to be there during service, the imam reciting the Koran verses from memory, in Arabic. Seriously impressive and awe-inspiring.

Do be mindful of the no shoes policy of all mosques. In general the goal is no external dirt to enter the holy premise. And mundanely, keep the carpet inside clean. That means you must do a small dance, contortion, at the door sill to remove and bag your shoes, without your socks touching the outside. (reminds me of working in the nuclear fuel business, crossing the line between inside and outside. Mis-step, your shoes touch, the fail the geiger counter, and you lose them...

The name and location do not refer to the tens of permanent shops that operate all week long in this area. They refer to the small open air bazaar which operates only on Saturdays and Sundays in this location by the seaside. The bazaar mainly offers accessories, souvenirs and some clothing items. The bazaar is in three sections; two are located on each side of the mosque and the third near the ferry station. Prices in the bazaar are midrange as it caters mostly...

Great shopping spot near the sea and you get to see the bridge at night and they sell a lot of jacket potato, waffle ice cream...