I will be there for about a week, and it will probably be a mix of a wide range of things.
Have been to Eastern Turkey on my long Silk Road trip, and had a layover of 12 hours in Istanbul once.

For me, when I travel, I don't have to see all the sights. Often the most memorable times are having a picknick in the park or a square and watch people and let everyday life pass you by.

But obviously, there will be some not to miss cultural sights as well. And a boat trip is on my list too.

In the Netherlands, there are large numbers of Turkish immigrants, since the 1950's. That means that it is quite a familiar culture in a way.

Will hopefully take a cooking class. I can do quite a bit of Turkish cooking, but want to extend my range. Love Turkish food.

And, about the beads......
The Turks are know for their specific type of eye beads. They are generally made in a different region than Istanbul. However, there is a glass school not too far from Istanbul that has built a traditional brick & mud furnace where they make these beads and pendants. I am hoping to go there and see it in action.

Also, shopping around for antique-ish beads will be fun too.