Istanbul
In Istanbul it seemed as if waiters, vendors, and other people were more interested in learning about where people were from, and what they were doing in Istanbul. They seemed much more open to talking and learning about us, everywhere we went. A lot of the shopkeepers and vendors also seemed to be more open to tourists, and were more willing to cater to them. And even though there was more of a language barrier in Istanbul—as there was no way to try and sound out Turkish, while in Italy I at least spoke a little bit of Italian—they automatically seemed much friendlier in some ways.
In restaurants they were immediately responsive to an empty water glass or a finished plate—even at some of the smaller establishments. This was very different than in Rome. However, it did give restaurants a more hurried pace, which made it feel like a restaurant you might experience in the United States. Waiters were quick to bring the check, and to bring the food, which seemed to create a more hurried pace than in Rome.
Similarly, the atmosphere in the bazaars were more in-your-face and quickly paced. Vendors would say anything shocking to get your attention. They wanted to draw you in, and get you to engage in an exciting bidding war with them. They expected you to decide quickly, so that they could move on to their next sale. I realized as soon as we entered the grand bazaar that it was much different than the markets in Rome. The atmosphere was completely different.
They seemed much more willing to cater to tourists at the bazaars as well. I was approached in French several times, as vendors tried to guess where I was from, before realizing I spoke English.
In many ways, Istanbul seemed like it had a much faster paced, all-embracing atmosphere that contrasted greatly with Rome.
I thought this trend could be seen in the general experience at the bazaars, as seen in the picture above.
Rome
In Rome, the experience in restaurants and shops was very different than what you might see in Istanbul. In Rome, rather than getting overly-attentive service, it could almost feel as if you were being ignored. The pace was always quite slow, and there was never any pressure for you to leave quickly after being served. You could sit for hours without feeling like there were anxious eyes waiting for you to pay.
However, unlike in Istanbul, it seemed as if it took awhile for local waiters or vendors to warm up to new people, especially if they only spoke English. There always seemed to be a certain curtness when serving tourists for the first time. However, after returning several times to the same place, their attitude might completely change. Becoming a loyal customer somewhere could often result in quicker service, huge discounts, and warm, friendly welcomes. This gave many establishments a more informal, family-owned feel. It was usually the same people working every day, and they obviously had their normal routine, with people they served regularly. This seemed different in many ways than Istanbul.
In general, Rome seemed to have a more relaxed, unrushed pace. At markets, although vendors might try to encourage you to buy from their stand, they wouldn’t immediately become pushy or pressure the buyer to decide.
I also felt that in Rome there was more of a sense of respecting Italian and Roman tradition. In Rome it seemed more expected of visitors to observe the language and customs of the area. Whereas in Istanbul it seemed to be expected that things would be adapted for tourists. I liked this sense of respect for tradition and culture in Rome.
I thought that this slower, more traditional pace to Italian life would be well represented by this picture of the Campo. When contrasted with the Bazaar, the atmospheres of these two places are clearly very different.
