Rugged reminder

That I’m crazy about almost all things Turkish is no secret. Ceramics, kilims, kilim cushion covers, carpets (yes, I even managed to squeeze one of those into my suitcase), ‘evil eyes’ in many forms, poufs, coffee, tea, tea cups, even their funky tulip-shaped tea cups — I spent my trip in Turkey risking my job as I pondered over ways to meet my baggage allowance. It’s not all my fault, though. Turkey, especially Istanbul, is that kind of place. Any corner you turn, a profusion of indigenous merchandise assaults the eyes, rendering even a non-shopper vulnerable. The most inescapable, next to the ‘evil eye’, but far prettier, are these woven Turkish bookmarks — miniatures of Turkey’s famed weaves, both antique and modern. Available everywhere (even the airport if you don’t manage to grab a few in town), easy to pack and at $1 or TRY 2 a piece, they’re a good bargain.