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 | 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...
by Dennis | June 23, 2016 | Bursa's Neat Places, Eat, Shop, and Stay, Osmangazi, Summer
Tucked away in the center of a sleepy little village just above Bursa’s Çekirge neighborhood on the road to Uludağ you’ll find the giant, sprawling 600-year old plane tree known as the Īnkaya Çınar. Famously known for its girth, the Īnkaya Çınar boasts a trunk 3...
by Dennis | June 17, 2016 | Featured Fotoğrafı
Bursa is a large, modern metropolis that boasts all the amenities and features of contemporary life. But not too far out of the city, the hills and back roads surrounding Bursa are full of traditional little villages that feel worlds away from the hustle, bustle, and...
by Dennis | April 13, 2016 | Featured Fotoğrafı, News and Events, Spring
We had some high hopes for the April 9-10 weekend. This month, Bursa is celebrating the 690th anniversary of the Ottoman conquest. We enjoyed these celebrations last year, and we were looking forward to watching the festivities again this year. Regrettably, the...
by Dennis | November 16, 2015 | Bursa's Neat Places, Fall, Featured Fotoğrafı, Mudanya, See, Do, and Play
On a sunny autumn afternoon, we pulled into the Bursa’s seaside village of Tirilye looking for lunch with a view and a chance to burn through a few rolls of film (or, at least take a lot of digital photos). As it turns out, we weren’t disappointed in either respect....
by Dennis | August 30, 2015 | Bursa's Neat Places, Fall, Kestel, See, Do, and Play, Summer
Nestled on Uludağ’s mountainside a dozen kilometers above the town of Kestel lies the hidden little village of Saitabat (Güvercinlik). Surrounded by plane tree forests, fruit orchards, and honey farms, the village itself is a sleepy little burg consisting of not much...
by Dennis | July 15, 2015 | Bursa's Neat Places, Nilüfer, See, Do, and Play, Summer
Under the shade of sprawling plane trees on a warm summer afternoon, my family and I sat at a table in the cobblestone village square with our friend, Murat, who had graciously offered that day to take us for a drive through Bursa’s countryside. There in the square we...
by Dennis | March 10, 2015 | Bursa's Neat Places, Eat, Shop, and Stay, Nilüfer
Originally published on March 10, 2015. Updated December 25, 2015. Update: As of December 2015, Organik Ev is no longer open to the general public as a walk-in cafe/restaurant. Organik Ev now specializes in hosting workshops, courses, and private parties. Please see...
by Dennis | January 12, 2015 | Bursa's Delightful People, Eat, Shop, and Stay, Yildirim
“Gel, gel, gel,” Sadet said to my wife, Amy, with an inviting hand motion. “Gel” is the command form of the verb “to come,” and in Turkish culture it’s wise to obey such a command given by an elder. Amy, not sure what she was...
