Istanbul's Grand Bazaar has been a center of life in the city for hundreds of years. With more than 4,000 shops on more than 60 streets, it is one of the largest markets in the world.

Hasim Güreli, vice-president of the bazaar merchants' association and member of its board of directors, poses at his carpet shop at the historical Grand Bazaar in Istanbul on July 9, 2024.

"The bazaar is a nearly 550-year-old shopping centre," noted Suleyman Ertas, general secretary of Istanbul's bazaar association. "It has about 3 500 shops, 64 streets and 22 entrance gates." ...

The dots on the dice didn’t quite line up. Tossing them, I was thankful the soul of old Istanbul survives. You can find it in the back streets of the Grand Bazaar.