So after we had had my new trousers fitted - checked the length etc - and enjoyed our cup of Turkish tea and a bit of a chat with Zeynel, we were looking like leaving. But Zeynel was looking anxious ... he really wanted to hang out with us a bit longer. Something to relieve the boredom of seven-days-a-week in that tiny below ground shop.
Peter wondered if he could have a new suit made, but was told that this shop no longer provided that service. However, he knew where Peter could get a good deal. Maybe we could go there now ...
So he said goodbye to his dad - who looked a little wistful - and we headed off up into the big noisy world of Istanbul streets. A few metres further on we were back downstairs again, visiting a suit shop - a friend of Zeynel's of course - in the long underground arcade that runs the full length of the main Bakırköy street. Here there were dozens of suit shops, in most cases they each specialised in a particular brand.
We went into the tailor's friend's shop, and Peter was measured for a suit and chose one off the rack in a colour and fabric he liked. While he was trying on the trousers Zeynel was looking around, and caught sight of a gold tie that he fancied ... he spun around to the rack of suits and found a suit that would go with it, and by the time Peter was out of the changeroom he had bought a new suit to go with the tie.
Peter decided he liked the new suit, so it was negotiating time. We had seen suits in other shops for around 60 YTL, but man was asking more than 130 YTL - well, it was excellent material etc ... While the tailor was choosing his new tie, the suit man had been selecting a suitable shirt and tie for Peter's suit. And then Zeynel had selected one or two other ties that he thought might be better for Peter. So we quietly gave him a nudge, and said that we wanted a shirt and tie included in the price, and it was agreed. Knowing the extent of Peter's tie collection, I suggested quietly that a second tie would sweeten the deal ... and so the deal was done.
We then had to wait half an hour for the trouser lengths - both Peter's and Zeynel's - to be fixed, so we walked with our Turkish friend up the length of the arcade and back. When we returned the work was done, but it was time to sit down and drink tea.
Finally we had the suit and stood in the arcade with the young tailor. He turned to go back to his shop, but we were walking in the opposite direction - he seemed very sad about that.
Here is Peter in his new suit on the steps near the front door of our apartments.
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