Amasra and Safranbolu

Hey All!

I had 3 days off this last week so I decided to take a spontaneous trip to the Black Sea coast. You can take these kind of trips in Turkey....bus fares are like $10. Pensions--or homestays--are about the same for a good night sleep and some breakfast!

I was traveling with a guy, Mack, I met my first day in Bursa. He's from Maryland and is in Turkey for the summer working a kids camp. In a few weeks he will off to Saudi Arabia to teach (makes Turkey seem like a walk in the park, eh!).

Anyways, we took the bus to a lovely little town on the water called Amasra. It's popular with Turkish vacationers but is virtually unknown one the Turkey travel circuit. Other than 2 French people, I think we were the only tourists around. No one seemed to really notice though. The Amasra folks were pretty laid back and friendly.

After some Efes and fish on the seafront, Mack and hopped a bus to the even lovelier town of Safranbolu.

The city is known for its Ottoman style architecture (the wooden houses you might see in my Facebook pictures) as well as its saffron and the irresistible Turkish Delights (lokum) it flavors. YUM! I bought half a kilo of them and finished the box in about 4 hours.

While hanging around our pension, we were able to meet some other travelers from South Korea and China. They were a hoot. One of the Korean girls actually came and stayed with me last night in Bursa!

My trip home was a wreck though. During my stopoff in Ankara I realized I left a small bag filled with my Safranbolu goodies and some other belongings on the local bus that took me to the station. I frantically tried to talk to the guy at the terminal in English, and then in really bad Turkish, and then again in English.....with no luck. Finally I found someone that could piece together what I was saying and he arranged for the bag to be dropped off at the station. After a 2 hour delay I made it back....just in time to nap and wake up for my class!!


You know, I think that its during the messy/hectic/unpredictable in-between parts of traveling that I learn the most about the world. The destination is like a reward!

Traveling and living in a new culture is quite uncomfortable in a lot of ways. Everything around you is different....different ALL day long. I find myself constantly having to be aware, think on my feet, and adapt. Sure its exhausting at times, but what I have to gain here is much, much greater than any of that!



I'm reading some Robert Louis Stevenson these days. I stumbled upon this gem of a quote.

"For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move; to feel the needs and hitches of our life more nearly; to come down off this feather-bed of civilization, and find the globe granite underfoot and strewn with cutting flints."

In Bursa!

Sorry it's been so long since my last post. I arrived in Bursa on Friday morning and have been going nonstop since I've been here.

I got in Friday morning and someone from my school picked me up to show me around and take me to the apartment I'll be living in. It's located about 5 minutes walking distance from the school and is the nicest part of the city. The neighborhood is situated on the side of the mountain and is full of parks and trees. It's a four bedroom apartment with 2 bathrooms and 5 balconies (one in every room and one with a view of the whole city!)

The schools is really great....the best language school in Bursa. I started today and have been observing the students I will be teaching on Wednesday. I have 4 classes: 2 junior clubs (8-10 year olds) and high school. This will only be for the summer term, then I will have adult classes starting in a few weeks.

I've met so many people already. One of my flatmates, Matt from Milwaukee, has introduced me to all of his friends...he's been in Bursa for 2 years. The English speakers hear are really diverse....one Polish girl, a Tunisian guy, a few Brits, and a couple people from the US.

Yesterday I took the cable car with a few people to Mt. Uludag (the mountain Bursa is situated on) and it was incredible. I'm surprised the world hasn't discovered this place....some of the best scenery and hiking I've ever seen. The pine covered slopes felt more like Colorado than Turkey. I'll definitely be making a few more hiking trips this summer and back for some skiing in the winter!

Bursa as a city is really wonderful. Since it isn't a tourist spot, people here much different than some of the other cities I've visited. I can actually walk down the street and shop in the bazaars without having to worry about the yabanci-hassling shopkeepers. Plus the shops are filled with handmade goods and fresh foods....rather than the piles of tourist crap you find in Istanbul. All the produce comes from the local farming communities and so it's super cheap (a bag full of fresh cherries for like $1.50!). The peaches and tomatoes are heavenly.

I don't have to worry about transportation too much because I'm within walking distance of my school, a big market, and good coffee shop. To get to center city I just take a dolmus (which is like a taxi but works more like the bus system) There is a place called "fish street" situated in center city on a cobblestone street that is full of fish restaurants serving up fresh seafood and meze--small sample size portions you usually drink with raki (anise flavored liquor). It is wonderful!

Although the food is good, I must say I miss me some spicy food. I would kill right now for some spicy mexican or thai or indian curry. The western part of Turkey doesn't have much spicy food and what they do consider "spicy" is laughable. Good thing I know how to cook!!

I learned to play backgammon today. The game is HUGE in Turkey and you see everyone playing it the cafes. Instead of reading books or chatting over coffee, Turks play board games.

There is so much more I learn about Turkey every day. To many things I can even right here. Most of them good or at least interesting.....some bad and annoying. But I guess that is part of the experience. I came here to know these things. To learn to live in it and survive. And hope to come out the other end with a better understanding.

I'll keep you all updated! : )

Love from Turkey!