In my last blog I talked about some of my adventures during a recent trip to Dubai. I noted my trip across the pond landed me in both Türkiye and Dubai to spend time with clients in each destination and that I got to experience some pretty amazing place and things between work duties. Well, in Türkiye, the stand-out adventure had to be time spent at the famous Grand Bazaar.

On one free morning in Istanbul, our Turkish rep, Saba, and I planned to spend our time at the Grand Bazaar. This was something I specifically requested as a must-do attraction while I would be in town. I did think this was mainly a tourist destination and it would be packed to the brim with other visitors taking in the experience just as I was, but Saba assured me locals often visit the bazaar for their favorite leather, jewelry or rug vendor.

I set a goal prior to my trip to return home with a famous Turkish rug. I knew these were handmade and would turn my new apartment into the cozy home I was envisioning. Most visitors purchase a small rug, maybe 3 by 4 feet in size, but I was on a mission to find the perfect carpet to fill my new living space, and only an 8-by-10-foot rug would do.

Saba had a “rug guy” we visited. The experience felt almost as special and significant as I would imagine buying a wedding gown would be. The owner of the shop sat us down and offered tea and Turkish coffee, as most do in the bazaar. His two assistants asked questions about my preference, including size, color, what room the rug would be in, and more. After we aligned on my wish list, they lifted and laid out countless rugs for me to see, step and sit on. I even had to look at each rug from different angles to see how the light hit the designs differently from one end of the room to the other.

I ended up choosing a gorgeous 8-by-10-foot rug with a maroon and navy blue border, and a center filled with beautiful multicolored florals. One of the flowers even represented new beginnings, as the shop owner mentioned, which was perfect, as I was about to move into my new place upon arriving home in Philadelphia.

I took a picture with the gentlemen who helped me, and they wrapped my rug to ship home. The DHL package actually got to the States before I did! It was an overall great experience I will truly never forget, especially as the rug is now the center of the home I will have for years and years to come.

— Haley Fogarty, advertising manager