Edirne Part 1

Erdine is a town with aprox. 150.000 inhabitants. It lays at the Turkish-Bulgarian-Greek Border.
It easily can be reached by bus from Istanbul within 3 hours. Taking the train to Edirne from Istanbul takes around 4,5 hours.



Things to see in Edirne

Since, Edirne isn't that big you can see most sights in the city center. They can be reached by walking.
Firstly, you should take a look at the Edirne Tourist information. It is located at the Talat Pasa Cd., at the corner to the Maarif Cd., beside the "3.Noter". There you can find not only information about Edirne, but also about whole Turkey.

Edirne Tourist Information

Just some steps further, is the the Grand Bazaar of Edirne located.
There you can find many things like souvenirs,sweets and clothes. Edirne is famous for it's fruit shaped soaps and it's almond sweets.

Edirne's Grand Baazar just opened in the moring

Edirne's famous fruit soaps, not only look cute but also shred a nice fragrance

After visiting the the Baazar, why don't you take a stroll at the main shopping street of Edirne? Or you can try the famous Edirne köfte or liver. Restaurants and snack bars can be easily found everywhere in the city.

The Selimiye mosque was build by the famous architect Mimar Sinan between 1569 and 1575. Unfortunately, Sultan Selim II, who commissioned the mosque could never see the completed work. He died already one year before the finishing, in 1574.
Mimar Sinan, sees the Selimiye mosque as his own masterpiece, and truly, it's one of the highest creations of the Islamic architecture.

The mosque and it's adjoining buildings belong, since 2011, to the UNESCO-World Heritage.
The 4 minarets are 71m high and the diameter of the dome is 31,28m. A part of the famous tiles inside the mosques, were brought to Russia during the Russian occupation of Edirne in 1878.
To the building complex also belong a baazar, a Turkish bath, a medrese, clinic and a grave yard.

The Selimiye mosque

The Selimiye mosque's Baazar

Beside the Selimiye mosque is the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art located.
There you can get information about techniques of various crafts and arts.
The entrance fee of the Museum is currently 5 TL and the visiting hours are everyday except Mondays from 9.00-18.30.
Location: Zehrimar Cami Sk, Edirne Center

The Museum's atrium

In my next post amongst other things, I will write about:
The Edirne city Museum
The old mosque
The old macedonian Tower

Bursa

Bursa is the is the forth largest city in Turkey.
If you are visiting Istanbul and you have some time, I recommend you to visit Bursa too.
It can easily reached by ferry boat. After using the ferry boat you need to get a bus or taxi ( which will be rather expensive)to get to Bursa. The bus ride from the ferry terminal to the center takes around 45 Minutes. You may check ferry boat schedule and prices on the webpage of the IDO ferry boat service . If you book early, you can get cheap promotional tickets. IDO ferry boat service



In Bursa you can take a city tour Bus for 5 TL for a single tour or for 20 TL a day ticket. The tour lasts around 1 hour. The tour starts and ends at the Bursa City gate. There is a special bus stop for the Tour bus and nearby, you can also find a Tourist information centre (Across the street, beside a small park).
The tour passed and stops and all main sights of Bursa. So, I really recommend you to take the tour.

Bursa city tour information



Things to see in Bursa:


The Great Mosque (Ulu Camii) in the center of Bursa was build between 1396 and 1399. The mosque was build in selcuk style and has two minarets. Inside the mosque around 190 calligraphic inscriptions can be seen.

The Koza Hani, the silk bazaar of Bursa, close to the Great mosque offers the change to buy inexpensive silk products.
If you don't want to buy anything, just take a stroll and then enjoy the beautiful atmosphere of the old Caravanserai, while drinking a chai in the courtyard of the Koza Hani.

The Green Mosque (Yeşil Camii) and the Green Tomb (Yeşil Türbe). Yeşil Türbe is a mausoleum of the fifth Ottoman Sultan, Mehmed I. It has an interesting hexagonal architecture and outside it is covered in green tiles, which give the tomb it's name.
Yeşil Mosque is in the opposite of the tomb. Both were build by the architect, Hacı Ivaz Pasha.
The mosque was built in the 15. Century mainly out of stone and marble. The beautiful interior of the mosque is covered with green blueish tiles.
Due to the death of the Sultan Mehmed I.in 1421 the mosque was never really finished and is missing of the planned atrium.
None the less the Yeşil Camii is one of the most beautiful and distinguished mosques in Bursa.

From the centre of Bursa it's possible to walk to the The Green Mosque and the Green Tomb. It takes around 20 Minutes.
Just walk until the end of the Atatürk Cd.. (If you pass a Clock tower, you will know you are walking in the right direction :)).
At the end of the Atatürk Cd. you should take a left turn into the Yeşil Cd.

Bursa City Museum
To get to know Bursa and it's history better, it's recommend to visit the Bursa City Museum. It is also situated at the Atatürk Cd.
The Museum can be visited every day except Mondays from 9.30-17.30.
Address: Atatürk Caddesi, No:8, 16020 BURSA
Close to the Museum is a square with a big Atatürk monument.

Ödemiş and Birgi in the Izmir Province

During our trip we got the tip to visit Ödemiş and Birgi which are around 130km away from Izmir. Ödemiş is famous for the best potatoes in Turkey and also the Ödemiş köfte which is very tasty! Every Saturday there is a farmers market in Ödemiş, which is worth a visit. So, if you head to Birgi, take a stop in Ödemiş.

Birgi

Birgi is a village near Ödemiş (around 13 km away). Since 1994 Birgi is listed as a World Cultural Heritage, as it is famous for it's Selcuk and Ottoman architecture. There are many sights to see. For example : Two beautiful mosques, a hamam, an old Madrasa... One of the most interesting sight (in my opinion) is the Çakırağa Konağı. The Birgi Çakırağa Konağı is a mansion, build by a wealthy merchant in the 1761-1764. The entrance fee to the Çakırağa Konağı is 3 TL.

If you go to Birgi, prepare to walk a lot. In summer a tourist train also runs through the village.

How to reach Ödemiş and Birgi?

By train from/ via Izmir From Izmir (the train also stops at the Izmir airport) you can go by train to Ödemiş. The train runs 7 times a day and takes around 2 hours.

The time table you can find here:TCDD time table

By bus You can also use the bus from Izmir or even Istanbul and Ankara (it takes around 9-9,5 hours) and other cities to go to Ödemiş. Between 5 am and 9pm every 30 minutes a bus leaves from Izmir Bus station to Ödemiş.

To Birgi From Ödemiş you have to use a Dolmuş from the bus station to get to Birgi. It runs approx. every 30 minutes or until it is full. The fare is around 3 TL and the travel time is around 20 minutes.

Addresses:
İzmir Otogarı Izmir Bus station Karacaoğlan Mh., 35070 İzmir http://www.izotas.com.tr/
Odemis Otogari Cumhuriyet Mah., Ödemiş Merkez/İzmir +90 232 544 4746

Before you start a trip, check the provided information carefully, they may be outdated, time tables change sometimes quickly and unannounced. The information is supplied without liability.

Farmer's market - semt pazarları

One way to experience Istanbul aside the tourist places is to visit a farmer's market. Since every quarter holds it's own market, you will be able to find an open market easily. At the market, one not only can buy fresh products but also clothes, household products and other bits and pieces. If you find a crowded stand, don't be afraid, take a look maybe you will be able to make a bargain. Or just a snack?
If you can find a gözleme stand: sit down, order one and then enjoy your gözleme and the hustle and bustle around you.

Here is a list of markets in Istanbul. I took the list from Cin Cevap
Location - Weekday

Bahçelievler – Monday

Bahçeşehir – Tuesday and Saturday

Bakırköy – Saturday
Near the İncirli metro station

Beşiktaş – Saturday

Beykoz – Thursday

Beylikdüzü – Sunday

Bostancı – Thursday

Büyükada – Thursday

Erenköy – Thursday

Fatih – Wednesday

Fındıkzade – Friday

Göztepe – Monday

Kadıköy – Tuesday and Friday

Kartal – Friday

Kozyatağı – Friday
Opposite of Carrefour, near Atacan Koleji.

Mecidiyeköy – Sunday

Pendik – Saturday

Üsküsar – Friday
Near private Anadolu Medical Hospital, located in the center.

Sanayi Mahallesi – Thursday

Şirinevler -

Şişli – Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Yeşilköy – Wednesday
Near the Florya water front, close to the Atatürk Airport.

4.Levent – Tuesday

The Guardian has a top ten list of markets in Istanbul. (Not only farmer's markets): Top Ten

MINIATÜRK

If you don't have time to travel other parts in Turkey, you should visit Miniatürk in Istanbul. There you can see many famous sights and landmarks of Turkey in miniature (As the same of the place already suggests :))
At the entrance you will be asked, which guide language you would like to have. You will get a ticket with your desired language (So far various languages are available e.g. English, Arabic, German... ). On the entrance ticket you will find a bar code, which you can scan at a small box in front of every sight and It will give you some audio information.
Inside the Miniatürk, there is also an Atatürk memorial hall and the Crystal Museum, which shows a few sight of Istanbul engraved in glass cubes. If you need a rest or an refreshment you can stay at the restaurant. (I must say it is little bit pricey..) Two gift shops offer a wide range of souvenirs. (I think, the prices in the shop were okay, last time I went there.)

Miniatürk opens everyday from 09.00 to 18.00. The entrance fee for foreigners is 10 TL at the moment. Miniatürk can be reached by following buses:
36T - CEBECI - TAKSIM
41ST - SEYRANTEPE - TOPKAPI
47 - YESILPINAR-EMINÖNÜ
47E - BINEVLER - EMINÖNÜ
47N - NUR SITESI - EMINÖNÜ
54HT - HASKÖY - TAKSIM - MECIDIYEKÖY
Just get off at the Miniatürk bus stop.
Please check the bus routes and timetables before you get on the bus!

Anadolu Kavağı

Anadolu Kavağı is a small town in the North of Istanbul. There are many fish restaurants and nearby, on a hill sits the ruins of the fort Yoros. Fort Yoros was build around 1262. The full tour of the of the Şehir Hatları Şehir Hatları Bosporus cruises takes a break there for almost 3 hours. It is enough time to climb to the fort Yoros and to take a lunch in one of the many restaurants.
The full Bosporus tour starts at 10.35 in Eminönü and ends there too, at 16.25. A double way ticket costs 25 TL.

Şehir Hatları Borporus cruise information

Anadolu Kavağı embarkation point

Fort Yoros

Where the Bosporus meets the Black sea

On the way up to Fort Yoros