"Istanbul’s peerless palace
By Anthony Sattin
I had just observed one of the time-honoured traditions of Istanbul, and surrendered to the temptation to buy too much in Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar. The affable trader with whom I had haggled and laughed and drunk tea for the best part of an hour was just wrapping up my purchases and instructing one of his assistants to find me a taxi. “Which hotel?” When I mentioned the Pera Palace, his face fell and he looked me up and down as if to reassess me, perhaps regretting the extent of the discount he had given."
More:FT.com / Travel - Istanbul’s peerless palace