Lost in the Grand Bazaar

With over three thousand stores in which to lose your money and 61 streets in which to lose your way, Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar is unlike any place I’ve ever been. It’s one of the world’s largest covered markets, and a visit is guaranteed to be exhilarating, frustrating and, above all, disorienting.

Casinos in the US are renowned for their intentionally disorienting designs. Mazes of slot machines, blinking lights, a lack of windows and landmarks, and even the carpet patterns all combine to make...