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15/03/2025

We began our day visiting the abandoned ruined (Aziz Nikolaos) or St. Nicholas Church in Güllübahçe that was built by the Greeks in 1821, on top of the remains of an older church. It is situated in a beautiful and peaceful location high up in the village of Güllübahçe (rose garden), with magnificent views of the area.

What a beautiful warm and sunny start to the day it was. ☀️😎

Afterwards we drove to our next stop which was for breakfast at Bafa Lake.

15/12/2023

These photos are from my first afternoon and evening. The afternoon photos are from when I arrived at my Airbnb which had amazing views of Mesopotamia and right next to the Ulu Camii.

This restaurant was also very close to where I was staying and luckily it wasn't cold or too windy to eat there on the top terrace to enjoy the amazing views. After I had finished my delicious dinner, 😋 I was taken out for a drive by another couchsurfing friend, İbrahim, to see the spectacular views of the castle and city by night. How lucky was I! 😍🥰

15/12/2023

The following few posts (there will be quite a few) of photos and videos are from my 2 recent visits to Mardin during October and November.

On my first morning, after arriving the day before, I met with İrem, my (couchsurfing) friend and tour guide. She had kindly offered to show me round a couple of places. We visited Olğunlaşma Enstitüleri (some hand made items that women made were for sale).

We also visited the magnificent Zinciriye Medrese, which was only 10₺ per person to enter. After we finished here, İrem went off to Uni for her afternoon lecture, while I continued my walkabout. İrem also showed me which minibus to take to and from Yeni Mardin and back to Eski Mardin. She also shared with me her typical daily life. She was very glad for the opportunity to practice her English with me. 🥰

21/08/2023

As previously mentioned, Aizanoi Ancient City is located in the Çavdarhisar township and 57 km from Kütahta's city centre. The city has a temple built for Zeus and is the best preserved temple in all of Analolia. 🏛

As well as a large theatre and stadium, there are two Turkish style baths, one of which is decorated with mosaics, plus a gymnasium, 5 bridges on Kocaçay which are still used today (one bridge in photos), an old dam, a trading building, and avenues with columns on both sides, necropolis areas and the sacred cave of Metre Steune. The German Institute is still carrying out excavations in the city.

The Temple of Zeus was built on a high plateau of the city and recent excavations done in that area revealed several levels od settlements dating as far back as 3000 B.C.
Most of the structural remains that have come down from Aizanoi that are located on both sides of the Kocaçay River (Petkalas) were built during the Roman era.

On both banks of the river, there were protective walls made out of large cut stones to protect the city against the rising waters of the Kocaçay, which still rise today. Two out of the four bridges on the river are still in use today (see photos). The low wooden bridge on the north was used as a pedestrian crossing.

As you can see, the stone bridge (in my photos) with 5 arches, that follows the wooden one is still in good shape. There is another one with three arches which has fallen into ruins. This one is followed by the city's main bridge, which today supports all of the traffic with its 5 arches.

Interestingly, the inscriptions on the pedestal of the bridge's railing tell us that the opening ceremony of the bridge took place in September 157 A.D.

After walking from Zeus Temple and over the 5 arches bridge, we continued to observe and walk among the ruins, still listening to all the information that was being sharing with us on our very informative guided tour with Professor Dr. Gökhan Coşkun, who is Head of Aizanoi excavation and Head of arkeoloji dept of Dumlupınar University, till we reached a place called Anturia (see photos).

Anturia, is a School of Archaeology and Social Environmental Ethics. It is also 'Çavdarhisar Evi' which is a cafe, cooking workshop, and has rooms for short stays. After such an amazing and interesting morning with much walking, we were all hungry, thirsty and ready for a rest. And what a great place to come for lunch! Home made Tarhana soup and goats cheese pizza. I highly recommend you come to this place for lunch if you ever come to see The Ancient City of Aizanoi! 🍕🍲🤌😋

Although there aren't any buggies yet for those less mobile that take you round the complete site, it's already in the plan and is being organised to be ready by spring next year. Other than that they're ready and waiting for tourists. 🚶‍♀️🚶‍♂️📷

For anyone wanting to learn more about Arzanoi Ancient City and Zeus Temple click the link below to find out more. 👇
https://www.ktb.gov.tr/EN-114130/aizanoi-ancient-city.html

Many thanks to my friend Hasan and his friend (our driver) for taking me to see this amazing historical Unesco World Heritage site on my birthday last week. I really had a wonderful time. 🥰

20/08/2023

The Temple of Zeus in the Phrygian City of Aizanoi is said to be one of the best preserved Roman temples. Construction of it began in 92 CE and continued during the reign of Hadrian in the 2nd Century CE.

The temple was dedicated to 2 deities. Zeus was worshipped in it's above-ground section while the underground chamber was the place of the cult of the Anatolian goddess Cybele.

Myself, my tour guide friend Hasan and our driver were priveliged to have been introduced to Prof Dr Gökhan Coşkun since he is Head of Aizanoi excavation and Head of the archaeology dept of Dumlupınar University. He was very happy to meet us and give us his precious time to personally show us around the complete site and explain the history.

Although Dr. Coşkun spoke some English with me to explain some history, he shared the majority of the history with Hasan who then later translated to me, since I was busy taking photos and videos. I felt so priveliged to be there experiencing this magical site and was so overwhelmed by everything in the underground area, including the music that was playing as it enhanced my experience.

After we finished looking at the temple and underground we continued walking in the surrounding area as there is still a lot of the ruins scattered around and ongoing excavations. Strangely enough you'll notice some new housing developments amongst the ruins.

2nd of 3 posts to be continued..... 😉👍🏻

19/08/2023

If you are like me and love visiting ancient Temples and Ruins then I highly recommend a visit to AIZANOI ANTIK KENT. 👌🥰🏛

The Aizanoi ancient city is located in the inner Western Anatolia Region, 48 km Southwest of the Kütahya Province, and within the boundaries of the Çavdarhisar district.

The visible remains of the city are mostly derived from the period of the Roman Empire. The city has significant remains such as the Zeus Temple, the Complex of Stadium-Theatre, Macellum, Portico Street, the bridges and dam, two necropolises, odeon, the Roman Baths.

Comparison with other similar properties......

When compared to the other Zeus Temples in the World, the Zeus Temple in Aizanoi is one of the best preserved. Since the space surrounded by the columns in the temple is marble-covered, the Zeus Temple in Aizanoi is unique in the pseudodipteros plan.

The other temples in this plan have a wooden roof cover. The temple is among the rarest religious buildings in Anatolia which have survived till today by preserving its form.

The Complex of Stadium-Theatre which was constructed adjacently is unique in the ancient world. The Macellum in Aizanoi dated to the midst of 2nd century AD is one of the first exchange stock markets in the world. Inscriptions on the Macellum showing the prices of all goods sold in the markets of the Imperial are survived till today and can be read completely at present.

If you're interested to know more about this amazing historical UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE site click the link below for the official information. 👇

https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5724/ #:~:text=The%20Aizanoi%20ancient%20city%20is,is%20known%20as%20%C3%96rencik%20Plain

Post 1 of 3...... To be continued

31/05/2023

It's so easy to spot me! Here I am on the West Bank of the Nile River near Luxor with Egyptoria (holding onto my hat 😃), exploring The Valley of The Kings in Egypt.

It's the most famous site for having unique collections of tombs and breathtaking ancient ruins. I was so overwhelmed! You should see these Wonders of the World at least once. You'll have a Holiday of a Lifetime if you take your tour with Egyptoria! 😍🏛

The Valley of the Kings is one of the most iconic and historically significant sites in Egypt, located on the west bank of the Nile River near Luxor. It was ...

08/03/2023

Happy Women's Day To All My Femal Friends!
💃🎉💐💗⚘

11/01/2023

SHORT 3 NIGHT 4 DAY TOUR OF MARDIN, MIDYAT & ŞANLIURFA departing on 23rd-26th April, '23. Itinerary cont....

DAY 4

Today is my last day (for this tour anyway). 😉 After breakfast I'll pack my luggage and meet up with my guide and head to Dara. Dara is known as the Ephesus of Southeast of Turkey and is well worth visiting. The site was built by Romans so it is quite easy to see similar architectural monuments down here. Many people put off visiting Dara due to its proximity to Syria, but wandering around the deserted ruins, nestled amongst which sits the current village, makes for a very unique experience.

I'm told the local folk around Dara are super friendly as you wander through what is essentially their farmland and even underneath their homes in the case of the incredible underground cistern. When arriving in Dara you will first notice the necropolis with rock cut tombs, but there's so much more that's well worth venturing further to explore such as the Roman bridges, walls, agora, cisterns and even part of the Silk Road itself.

Dara is an important East Rome military city is around 19 miles outside of Mardin, where excavations have been going on since 1986. The finds have been abundant and the most recent being an olive workshop dating from the 6th century. This confirms the city was an important olive oil production and trade center, as well as the site of numerous military conflicts.

Many underground cisterns left over from Mesopotamia's original irrigation system are open to the public, so I'll be taking a wander inside one to see just exactly what I've only heard about. One Byzantine cistern is so enormous the locals refer to it as zindan, a dungeon, and tell stories of it being used as prison. It decends 82 ft underground with access through the basement of a village house, providing you can find the man with the key! 😉

I will also visit the first Dam of mankind which was built during the 3rd century A.D. Afterwards I will visit one underground cistern which dates back to the Roman period as well. Around 11am my guide and I will sit in the village café where I can talk to the local people while taking a rest and drink coffee or tea.

Then we will drive one hour to Midyat. The city has got a very deep history of Syriac race and their own architecture and art. I'll have lunch at a local restaurant and then visit Mor Gabriel Monastery. Mor Gabriel Monastery, also known as Deyrulumur, is one of the oldest surviving Syriac Orthodox monasteries in the world. It is located on the Tur Abdin plateau near Midyat in the Mardin Province in Southeast Turkey.

Then we will walk to the Bazaar where I can visit one of the Syriac shops where they still make beautiful jewellery known as Telkari. You can watch how they make this beautiful art. I will then have some more free time and later get ready for my flight back to Izmir from Mardin.

So...... if all this information has whet your appetite for joining me on this incredible tour check the information below and if it's suitable for your budget please drop me a message or leave your Whatsapp number or email address and I'll ask them to reply to you ASAP. If you would like to make this tour on a different date or at the end of May, you can ask for your requested dates.

🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️

INCLUSIONS

Flight tickets

3 nights accommodation at a 5 star hotel

Transfers from Didim to Izmir and vice versa Mardin to Hotel and vice versa

4 days local English Speaking Guide

Breakfasts and lunches

Private bus or van

Insurance

EXCLUSIONS

Personal expenses

Dinners

Tips to guide and driver

TOUR PRICE:

£599 pp

̧anlıurfa ̈l

11/01/2023

SHORT 3 NIGHT 4 DAY TOUR OF MARDIN & ŞANLIURFA departing on 23rd-26th April '23 itinerary cont........

DAY 3

Today after breakfast my guide will pick me up and we will head to Harran, Şanlıurfa. The drive is around two and half hours in which my guide will give a historical background of the site Harran on the way. On arrival I will go and visit a family who are still living in the conical houses. I'll be able to talk to them and learn about their daily life while tasting the strongest coffee of the town called Mirra. ☕

"Beehive" Adobe House of ancient city of Harran, Upper Mesopotamia.

Harran was an ancient city in Upper Mesopotamia, situated at a crucial geographical crossroad between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers. It had a strategic location at the border between the ancient Mesopotamian and the Anatolian cultures.

The city was famous for the temple of the Moon-God Sin and the defeat of the Roman General Crassus in 53 BC ("Battle of Carrhae"). Today, Harran is famous for its traditional 'beehive' adobe buildings that were cool inside and constructed entirely without wood. Their design has not been changed for at least 3,000 years. The rich history of the ancient Harran's 'beehive' adobe houses goes back in time.

The city was founded in an area occupied by two trade routes between Syria, Asia Minor, and Mesopotamia. From the 3rd millennium BC until medieval times, Harran (in Roman Carrhae) was an important trade centre located on the road from the Meditteranean Sea to the heart of Assyria.

The Harran conical houses served people for a very long time. They first appeared around 3,000 years ago and are wonderfully cool places in the desert heat. Their thick mud brick (adobe) walls effectively trap the cool air and at the same time, keep the sun out. You'll notice they have very few windows. The nomadic lifestyle and the climatic conditions forced people to adopt a building form that can be constructed easily like a tent but perfectly resist heat and cold.

We'll have lunch in a local restaurant and afterwards drive to the ruins of first Islamic University built in 15th century. After I've had some free time at the ruins we will drive one hour to the oldest temple of mankind Gobeklitepe, which is believed to be around 11,000 years old, 6 thousand years before Stonehenge and 6,500 years before the Giza Pyramids and is the World's oldest known Megalithic site. So amazing! 🤩

This has been one of the main topics in the archaeology world and hosts thousands of visitors every year. In 2022, a record breaking visitors of 850,000 visitors was recorded. You will be overwhelmed by the history background and as it is accepted as zero point in history. Of course, Göbekli Tepe is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and so far 6 enclosures have been identified and excavated, revealing almost 50 T shaped pillars weighing several tons with depictions of serpents, foxes, boars and others.

I'm sure I will have plenty time at this magnificent site for photos and try to understand and get a feeling of how life could have been lived so far back thousands of years in history.

Then we will drive back to Urfa which is known as Edessa in the Bible and is also known for its different Kebabs especially Urfa Kebab and Liver (ciğer) Kebab. During my free time there I can either visit Urfa Museum or Balıklıgöl (both if there's time), though many years ago I was fortunate to have visited Balıklıgöl, where Muslims believe the birthplace of Abraham.

During the Hellenistic period, Edessa was one of the holy sites of the Syrian goddess Atargatis, which also had prominent centres throughout Syria and the Levant in places such as Hierapolis and Ashkelon. In these locations as well, pools of fish were sacred locations, and people were forbidden from consuming them.

Before it gets dark we will drive back to the hotel. Again staying overnight at Kaya Ninova Hotel in Mardin.

To continue with DAY 4 in next post 😊

10/01/2023

SHORT 3 NIGHT 4 DAY TOUR OF MARDIN & ŞANLIURFA departing on 23rd to 26th April, '23

DAY 1

On arrival at Mardin Airport I will be met by my guide with private transport and head to the hotel at the old city Mardin. Once I've checked into my hotel and room I'll then meet my guide in the lobby to have a half hour orientation about what I can do with my free time and what and where to eat dinner. Being very central you can walk anywhere from the hotel. You can even stay at the hotel and enjoy dinner with a great view from its terrace. Overnight in Mardin at Kaya Ninova Hotel.

DAY 2

Today I will be picked up by my Tour Guide at 09:00 am. and will start the day with Deyrul Zaferan Monastery which is the biggest cathedral of the town and located 4 kilometers east of Mardin, dominating the Mardin Platau. The Monastery consists of 3 floors starting from the 5th Century and reached its present state in the 18th Century with additions made at different times.

The Monastery was previously known as the Monastery of Mor Zleymun. After a major renovation of Mardin and Kefertüth Metropolitan Saint Hananyo starting in 793, the Monastery became known as the Monastery of Mor Hananyo 15. After a century later, the Monastery began to be known as Deyrulzafaran Safran Monastery. It gets its name from the words 'deyru' which means monastery in Syrian language and 'zafaran' which means saffron.

Deyrulzafaran Monastery, which attracted people's attention with its domes and belted columns, wooden handicrafts, stone embroideries in the interior and exterior, was one of the religious education centers of the Syrian Church throughout it's long history. This Monastery has been one of the important centers of the Syrian Orthodox patriarchy for about 640 years and consists of the Sun Temple, House of Saints, Mor Hananyo and Virgin Mary Church.

We don’t need transport afterwards as all the highlights in the itinerary are walkable. We will walk to Kasimiye Madrasah which dates back to 13th century. The construction of the Madrasah, which has survived still until today with its perfect structure, started in the Artuqid period and was completed in 1457-1502 during the reign of Akkoyunler Ruler Cihangiroğlu Kasim Padishah.

The structure, which attracts attention in terms of its plan features, stonework and ornamental motifs, is located in the complex together with the mosque and tomb. There's a fountain and a large pool in the courtyard of the Madrasah, which is one of the largest structures in Mardin.

Then we will walk to Kirklar Church which is a working Syriac Church. The Assyrian Kirklar Church, also known as The Church of the Forty, after the 40 martyrs of Sebaste, is located on the main Square. The Church has a uniquely Middle Eastern feel to it with arches, columns and inscriptions showing biblical scenes.

Kirklar (Kilisesi) Church, also known as Mor Benham, was one of 7 Syriac Orthodox Churches. Originally constructed in 569 C.E., The Church of the 40 Martyrs, took its name when the relics of 40 Martyrs were brought here in 1170.

Afterwards we will walk through the historical narrow streets of Mardin and arrive at Zinciriye Madrasah. Built in the 13th century, this stunning old building overlooks the old town. The rooftop is a great spot for snapping photos of the city and is a very popular spot for Newly Weds due to its popularity on Turkish TV shows, while Zinciriye Medresesi, is a religious school dating from 1385. This ancient Islamic center of learning is one of the best tourist attractions in Mardin with incredible views from the rooftop.

The first floor opens up into a courtyard with a small pond and channel representing renewal. The courtyard is surrounded by arched columns leading to various small rooms. The second floor overlooks the courtyard and from here you can ascend a narrow stairway to the roof. On the roof, 2 large domes give way to incredible views across the rooftops and out across the Mesopotamian plains far below.

Afterwards we will stop for lunch at a local restaurant where you can try traditional Mardin cuisine at Baghdadi Restaurant. Then we will walk to the Ulu Mosque and later visit some of the small shops at the bazaar near the mosque where they sell beautiful handicraft souvenirs, local spices, natural oils and creams etc..

There are several lovely stone Mosques in Mardin, the Grand Mosque (Ulu Cammi) being the most famous. This 11th century mosque has a striking minaret which dominates the skyline of Mardin soaring high above the surrounding Bazaar. The mosque itself is still active so you'll need to dress appropriately to visit inside. Take time to explore the courtyard with its intricate, ancient carvings.

The Grand Mosque is a top Mardin attraction, and a walk in any direction and the streets of Mardin offer up gorgeous visuals. Although founded by the Seljuk Turks, its current form is largely due to Artuqid ruler Beg ll Ghazi ll. The surface of the mosque's one remaining minaret is embelished with Seljuk, Artuqid and Ottoman inscriptions.

Before going back to the hotel my guide will give me an orientation, suggest where to eat my evening meal and leave. I can then either continue my shopping and mingle with local people or go back to my hotel and rest. Overnight at Kaya Ninova Hotel in Mardin.

09/01/2023

I'm so excited! 🤩

Finally! One of the places that's been on my Bucket list for quite a few years now, is to visit Mardin to experience the historical wonders, and thankfully it's finally going to happen! My 3 night, 4 day Tour itinerary has been completed! Date of travel 23/04/23 - 26/04/23 and staying at Kaya Ninova 5* Hotel in Mardin.

On this Tour, I'll also be visiting Midyat, Dara, Harran, Göbekli Tepe and Balıklıgöl in Şanlıurfa! I can hardly wait! 😍 For those of you that have never heard of these places I'll be giving an insight to what you can expect to see and do on a visit to these amazing historical places by making several separate posts giving information from my itinerary and photos of where I will go each day of my Tour.

Mardin in southeast Turkey is where thousands of years of history come alive. Its shimmering white gold buildings form a line of terraces built on a hill looking across the plains to present-day Syria.

The Assyrians, Arabs, Seljuk Dynasties, Kurdish, Persian, Mongols, and Ottomans have all fought for control over this town. The town is famed for its Artuqid architecture dating the 11th and 12th Centuries with ochre and sandstone-coloured buildings clinging to the cliffside.

There are lots of incredible things to do while in Mardin and the top Mardin attractions include Zinciriye Madrasa with stunning views across the plains and out over Syria, the Grand Mosque (Ulu Camii) and the many bazaars and rooftop cafes.

Today, this town of old stone houses that spread out below a cliff ridge in a tumble of labyrinthine alleyways provides bucket loads of old-world ambience and things to do. Donkeys meander through narrow streets past doorways and through low arches, suddenly braying around corners. You'll see why the donkey's are always seen in the passage-ways as they are the ones collecting the rubbish since vehicles are too large to manouvre in these narrow streets.

Old stone walls reverberate with the gentle murmur of conversations in Arabic, Syriac, Armenian, Kurdish, Torani, Turkish and Aramaic, an ancient Semitic language once believed to have been used by Jesus. This is Mardin, a city in southeast Turkey where thousands of years of history are visible around every corner.

With its wealth of historic buildings – some now converted into boutique hotels – Mardin's timeless allure is its main attraction, bringing a brand new batch of visitors here to soak up the cultural heritage rather than invade and conquer. It's one of the best places to visit in Turkey's southeast to experience the rich history of this region.

From photos and videos I've seen, the views are spectacular. You can hardly miss noticing the Minarets, the narrow meandering lanes, the castle that dominates the old city and the baked brown stone houses that cascade down the hillside. I wish I could just close my eyes, snap my fingers and be right there in the centre of this magical place. 🤩

The city is located on the slope of a hill looking down south to the Mesopotamian plains. Mardin is also a perfect setting for films and since TV films have been made here for many years it has created much curiosity for Turkish, Kurdish, Syrians and other nationalities to come and experience this magnificent area and culture for themselves.

I'm glad to know the old town part of the city is under the protection of UNESCO, which forbids new constructions to preserve it's facade, otherwise who knows what it could end up looking like!

Why not come with me and discover this unique beauty of the Mesapotamia, walk through the narrow historic streets with local arts and crafts stores, cafés and delightful restaurants serving local cuisine. Visit Mosques, Monasteries, Museums, ancient ruins and so much more on this incredible 4 day Tour.

Located where major civilizations like the Sumerians and Babylonians came to power, Mardin has a complex history, where thousands of years of history are visible around every corner. I have a feeling that I won't want to leave so soon after only 4 days and will return to explore some more. 😉

Just a few photos here to get an idea of what you'll see when you visit Mardin. I'll put photos of each place I will visit when I post each of the days itinerary.