Lot of things you can buy in Turkey. We'll have a brief look at some of the signature products that Turkey is famous for. Carpets, of course, are all around you from the moment you arrive. It would be crazy to try and put a complete buyer's guide up here but we'll have a look at some basic things you ought to know.

If you buy through a tour guide or 'friend' of the carpet seller you can expect to include 30% commission in the price that you pay. This may sound scandalous but that's the way it is. In Cappadocia for example, many tours will include a visit to a carpet making co-operative, here you'll be offered drinks and maybe a snack, accompanied by a presentation or lecture on carpets. They'll tell you all about natural and artificial dying about the difference between hali and kilim, what sumak work is and lots of other interesting things. They'll show you $5000 carpets and try and sell you a rug for $100. This is often a very enjoyable experience but if you buy at this point you're paying over the odds. If you see something that you really like during one of these visits then it may be worth your while to return later on, without your guide.

There are lots of other things you can buy here. We'll get around to them, hopefully before you do. It's usually a good idea to go to the source where possible. That means Eskisehir for Meerschaum, Avanos in Cappadocia for earthenware. This isn't always practical of course. The price differential that used to exist has pretty much disappeared and you willnot find leather as cheap as it used to be. You can still find jackets and bags of a very high quality if you look around so all is not lost.