I'm going for the first time in July! Send your recommendations of places to go, things to buy/not buy, etc. (If you don't mind the thread hijack!) (The title IS "Istanbul" after all!)
Where are you staying? Right now I'm in Sultanameht... my hotel has a lovely view of the Blue Mosque and of Haiga Sophia.
Things to buy... gold... gold... gold. But don't think that you'll get a GREAT bargin. You won't but you will get 22ct and 18ct gold... which is harder to find in the US. Leather goods are great... espcially if you like baby lamb leather ... which is like silk it's so smooth and soft.
Do the day cruise... it's worth the money. Get a Turkish bath and massage.