Grand Bazaar reopens, along with other tourism destinations

ISTANBUL- Agence France-Presse

Turkey reopened restaurants, cafes and Istanbul’s iconic 15th century Grand Bazaar market on June 1 as the government further eased coronavirus restrictions.

Many other facilities including parks, beaches, libraries and museums reopened across the country, while millions of public sector employees returned to work.

At Istanbul’s landmark Grand Bazaar, traders were dusting the shelves and tidying their shops while janitors scrubbed floors as the world-famous site welcomed visitors again.

The bazaar on the historic peninsula also home to tourist sites such as the Hagia Sophia museum and the Blue Mosque, was closed on March 23 to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

It was the market’s longest closure in its more than 550-year-old history that did not involve fires or earthquakes.

Its reopening was a symbolic move not only for Turkey, but for the world, said celebrity chef Nusret Gökçe, nicknamed Salt Bae, who runs a steak restaurant in the bazaar.

"Istanbul is the capital of the world and the (Grand Bazaar) is the first shopping mall of the world. We are waiting for everyone," he said.

Diners at his popular eatery are encouraged to read what’s on offer on their phones rather than handling the printed menus.

Elsewhere at the market, some shop owners were eager to get business back on track, while acknowledging that it could take time for the crowds to return.

"I cannot say business is good for the time being but God willing it will gradually be soon," said carpet vendor Ali Amaç.

Bars and nightclubs remain closed, while restaurants and cafes- open for the first time since March 16- must space tables apart and diners must wear masks when they are not eating.

In one cafe near Istanbul’s central Taksim square, mannequins have been set up at the tables to aid social distancing and give the impression that the place is busier.

Domestic flights also resumed between a limited number of cities, as an inter-city travel ban was lifted, with national carrier Turkish Airlines carrying out its first trip since early April.

International flights remain suspended until June 10.

The flight ban has stranded some, like Sanaa Kheddar, an Algerian tourist stuck in Istanbul since mid-March.

She decided to spend June 1 at the Grand Bazaar with her husband, after weeks of being shut out.

"We heard it would open today, so we came. It’s the first time. It is amazing, it is wonderful," she said.

All visitors must wear masks at the bazaar, and customer numbers are limited inside shops.

Some of the traders complained of inadequate airflow.

"Windows in the bazaar’s main artery are open but this isn’t the case in this section," said Celal, brushing off the dust on "evil eye" jewelry.

He hoped windows would be opened because there was no air conditioning. "Otherwise we’re like in a fishbowl," he said.

The bazaar- which was built in 1455 just two years after the Ottomans conquered Istanbul, then known as Constantinople- is home to almost 3,000 shops where more than 30,000 people work.