The Sultan was walking around the city with his retinue. His loyal friend and right hand man Burhan Pasha was with him. Sultan Mehmed was a very tall and strong man, which was easily guessed by his large build. Everything about him literally breathed masculinity, strength and wisdom.

Walking past the shops and shopping arcades, various children, poor and rich, often ran up to the Sultan and showed him something. He invariably gave each of them a few gold coins. Mehmed walked around his domains simply to assess the situation, to see how people lived, what they were selling. The Sultan stopped at a fabric shop and started a conversation with an elderly man who sold it. He praised his expensive fabrics and the Sultan bought one beautiful embroidered scarf, giving much more gold coins for it than it was worth. The Sultan looked at the slightly frowning expression on his friend Burhan's face and said with a grin. "Excellent, the people are happy, and that's the most important thing."

This was unusual. Usually the Sultan is quite stern, cold and taciturn.