Bursa

No complaining , it wasn’t such an early start. Pick up is at 8.00am and you will get to see a different part of the city as well as another area. Bursa is approximately two hours away .

Bursa is the fourth biggest city in Turkey. In the 1400’s, it was actually the capital of the Ottoman Empire. Now it is just known as the Green city as many of the streets are lined with trees and there are green spaces everywhere. Behind the  city ,the Uludag mountain and National Park rise, This is a popular ski area as temperatures here get to below –  30 degrees.

Before getting to the city we stopped for an adventure driving ( or if you are me riding) an ATV.   

You have to admit it was fun even if we were going really slow. The revving motor was impressive on the hills.

Trees can grow to enormous heights but rarely achieve their potential in an urban setting. Look at this tree.

It is estimated to be around 615 years old. The sign was made a few years ago.

Hungry? We are going to a Turkish Delight makers shop. Now don’t tell me you don’t like it. You have only had the sweet we get in Australia. It’s made with sugar and sometimes nuts but is not the traditional sweet. They say here that you give that one to your mother in law and the good one made with honey to your mother or your wife.

They sell it in pieces by the kilogram. You eat small pieces cut from the roll. I tried quite a few, how about you? Modern versions have like a nut, or cheesecake paste in the centre with the honey mix on the outside. It was sooooo hard to choose  so I bought a mix of traditional and modern. Did you buy any as a gift?
A quick lunch and then up the mountain. The ski resort is accessed by chair lift or cable car. Which one? We will try both! The top of the chair lift is known Karakay, You will have to take your photos quickly as the mist is wafting across. Our guide say it is amazing in winter.

Now for a different view, the Cable car.

The day is nearly over but it wouldn’t be Turkey if you didn’t see a Mosque and had some retail therapy at the Bazaar. This one is Bursa dates back to the 1400’s and is in a building of many rooms. Sometimes you walk up steps through a narrow opening or up spiral stairs. An interesting experience.

I liked the Green mosque. You could feel it was part of the community with older people sitting outside solving the problems of the world or maybe just having a grumble. The deep green tiles were simple and beautiful and each small area was being used by someone

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Nearby is the tomb of the Sultan who built the mosque. In the old days a Sultan would kill all those who could be rivals now or in the future……brothers , their sons etc. it’s a bit like some present leaders isn’t. They would all be buried in the grave where the Sultan would eventually lie. Later all these males would be imprisoned in a Harem.

Have you had a fabulous day? I have.  On the ferry, back to Istanbul and you even have a beautiful sunset to enjoy. You can have a quiet day tomorrow and walk from Europe to Asia!