Bursa

Taking a relaxing ferry ride across the Sea of Marmara , I arrived  Bursa. It  was so easy to trip from İstanbul . A  one-way journey was only about three hours. As I said before,Bursa’s history goes way back, as it was the first capital of the Ottoman empire,  many historical buildings are still standing today. Firstly, I went to old city center to visit Grand Mosque, which was built between 1396 and 1399. The largest mosque in Bursa, it is considered a landmark of early Ottoman architecture.

Near it, of course I visited  Bursa’s Grand Bazaar which is one of the city’s best spots for shopping. The city was known for producing high-quality silk goods during the Ottoman period, and  ipek, or silk, can be found at 40 shops in the top level of the bazaar’s Koza Han. I bought nice souvenirs here. Yeah I felt hungry while walking around and I found the original Iskender Kebap Restaurant, is named after its founder, Iskender Efendi, whose signature dish is also called Iskender Kebap.It was really delicious.  

Then,I visited Osman Gazi and Orhan Gazi tombs who are founders of Ottoman Empire.I saw the intricate mosaics and beautiful architecture inside.Btw, It is too late now,  see you tomorrow my dear followers.  

    Hi again,Today was great. In the morning, I went to İnkaya (Grand) Plane tree .Oh my God! It was the biggest tree I’ve ever seen .As I searched, it is 1000 square meter with a height of approx. 30 meters. It is believed that the tree is at least 600 years old. It is the largest and the oldest one in Turkey. Under this giant tree, drinking turkish tea was undescribable.

 In the afternoon, I went to the traditional Ottoman villages ; Cumalikizik and Gölyazı date back more than 700 years to the foundation of the Ottoman Empire. Even if the people didn’t know English ,they tried talking and offering some drinks and food. They were so hospitable and friendly here.Actually, it’s no surprise why this city is often called Yeşil Bursa (Green Bursa) , it’s full of parks and gardens, big and small.Bursa, which is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. No matter what kind of traveller you are: a shopper, a food enthusiast, or a history buff, this beautiful city is sure to have something for you.