by Emily | June 3, 2022 | Culture and History, Iznik, See, Do, and Play
Bursa is a city of artisans. From woven silks to shadow puppetry, the variety and expertise is astounding. One of Bursa’s most unique historical artforms is found in the ceramic studios of Iznik. During one of our visits to Iznik, we decided to browse the Iznik...
by Can B | April 20, 2022 | Bursa's Neat Places, Culture and History, Eat, Shop, and Stay, Osmangazi
Historians tell us that Prusias I, the king of Bithynia, laid out the city plans for Bursa with the aid of Hannibal, the famous Carthaginian general, between 185-184 B.C. Hannibal came to Bithynia after Carthage lost the “2nd Pontic War” with Rome. His popularity had...
by Emily | February 20, 2022 | Culture and History, Eat, Shop, and Stay, Miscellany, Travel Tips and Visiting Info
Ice cream is a common treat in many cultures, but Turkey has a recipe that’s all it’s own. Maraş Dondurma (mah-rash don-dur-mah) is most fondly known as “stretchy ice cream” or “cut ice cream”. Aside from being entirely delicious, this ice cream is known for its rich,...
by Can B | December 29, 2021 | Bursa's Neat Places, Culture and History, Yildirim
Part 1: The Village of Zeyniler Part 2: Along the Water Way Part 3: Beyond the Village Zeyniler is a quiet village overlooking a gorgeous valley on the slopes of Uludağ mountain, yet surprisingly close to downtown Bursa. The village is only 6 km from the Grand Mosque...
by Emily | September 7, 2021 | Bursa's Neat Places, Culture and History, Eat, Shop, and Stay, Miscellany, News and Events, See, Do, and Play, Travel Tips and Visiting Info
The Bursa municipality recently released a new mobile application called “GO Bursa”. It’s a great tool to download and have quick reference to the city’s main attractions. The app uses high quality photos and video clips to give you a clear sense of the location. One...
by Emily | August 6, 2021 | Bursa's Neat Places, Culture and History, Fall, Iznik, Spring, Summer
The county of Iznik is certainly one of Bursa’s most historically robust areas. As a city that had been conquered and ruled by the Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks, and Ottomans, the layers to its past are still being uncovered. As a tourist visiting the community, it’s...
by Emily | July 16, 2021 | Bursa's Neat Places, Culture and History, Eat, Shop, and Stay, Nilüfer, See, Do, and Play, Summer
Growing up, my mom always said, “Chocolate makes everything a little better.” My Chocolate Bursa, our city’s first museum dedicated to the art of handmade Belgian chocolates, certainly takes that idea to heart! The museum officially opened July 9th, complete with the...
by Emily | May 30, 2021 | Bursa's Neat Places, Culture and History, Iznik
One of Bursa’s most prominent historical locations is the county of Iznik, also known as ancient Nicaea. Iznik is not a particularly large county, by comparative standards — home to only 15,000 residents — but it is brimming with historical artifacts and...
by Emily | May 2, 2021 | Culture and History, Miscellany, Thoughts and Musings, Travel Tips and Visiting Info
When visiting a foreign country, most people want to know how to say a few basic things: Hello. How much does this cost? Where is the bathroom? I’ll drink water. Help! I’ve run out of hand sanitizer and masks! Where can I get more? That last one was probably not in...
by Emily | April 24, 2021 | Culture and History, Gemlik, Miscellany, Thoughts and Musings
My husband is a history buff. One of his favorite pastimes since living in Turkey has been to discover all the many ancient church ruins in Bursa. Sometimes me and the kids humor him and go along for a nice drive and a picnic along the way. One such adventure took us...
