Beyoglu and Taksim Square
At one point in our shopping adventures, we were told that Taksim Square was very different from the other areas of Istanbul that we were visiting, that it was much more Western and that we wouldn’t see anyone in Muslim dress. All of the aforementioned was definitely true. As we walked from Galata Tower to Taksim Square, we saw a more European looking crowd. We saw everything from clothing stores including lingerie and explicit t-shirt shops to restaurants and bars and even a gay bar. Definitely a change of pace. We also found a café with a terrace near Galata Tower that gave us splendid views of the surrounding areas of the city. Simply amazing.