Zeugma Mosaic Museum " Must See"

Zeugma

The ancient city of Zeugma was settled on the banks of the Euphrates River, 45 kilometers away from Gaziantep close to a village called "Belkis" in the town of Nizip. It was the 4th most important settlement of Kommagene Kingdom. 

Interior of Zeugma Mosaic Museum

The population of the city was approximately 80.000 people. The name of the city comes from Romans who ruled the city after 64BC. and means "Bridge" because of the strategical importance. Those wonderful villas built during Roman times and decorated with the most beautiful examples of Roman mosaics.

Unfortunately, archaeologists were able to work in Zeugma for a short time as the city now beneath the rising waters of a several dam constructions. Mosaics are now protegted in the modern museum of Gaziantep. Some mosaics from the museum follows:

Latrines

Gypsy Girl Mosaic

Eros & Psyche Mosaic

Achilleus Mosaic

Gaziantep "A Food Paradise"

Known as the city of pistachios nuts and sweet Turkish baklava (Pastry covered with sweet syrup and filled with nuts), Gaziantep has a set cultural route for visitors to be  introduced to local traditions including the old copper bazaar, coffee houses and whirling dervish lodge. 

Gaziantep Zincirli Bedesten

Formally called Antep, its popular attraction is the Zeugma mosaic covering a massive 1700 meters and displaying marvelously intact mosaics from the ancient city of Zeugma that used to sit on the Euphrates River.

Gaziantep Zeugma Mosaic Museum

Gaziantep is a real paradise for food lovers. Still kebabs is the main dish but you can enjoy different flavor in here. Imam Cagdas Restaurant is the best place to taste local dishes as well as delicious lahmacun. 

Imam Cagdas Restaurant, Gaziantep

You may also try local coffee shops who serve Menengic Coffee which is made by wild pistachios used to make a caffeine-free coffee.Of course, its not a rel coffee but you may try. Its a wonderful option for the people who does not like caffeine and have difficulty to sleep after drink a coffee. The best place is Tahmis Kahvesi to try it but you can also try local coffee shops which also has cave rooms.

Coffee Shop in Gaziantep

Of course,  Baklava : most delicious, most crunchy, most amazing baklava can be eaten in Gaziantep. There are different brands but we most liked the one we tasted in Kocak Baklava. There is also a shop in the center called " Hacıoglu" it was good too.

Baklava Shop in Gaziantep

Gaziantep is also paradise for shopping. You may find all kinds of artwork, handcraft, local souvenirs with much more reasonable prices.

Remember these ? Brad Pitt wear a pair in movie of Troy... Most of them produced for Hollywood films.

Visit to "The Hidden Land" Eastern Turkey

Thanks to the Internet, travel to Eastern Turkey is becoming more popular, sought after by people who crave more than sandy beaches and home comforts. 

Eastern Turkey offers a completely distinctive experience, steeped in culture and tradition; it is a lifestyle incomparable with Western values and trends. It is more conservative than the West coast of Turkey and ancient values are very much existent in everyday life. 

Traditional Beehive Houses in Eastern Turkey

Some notable places to visit include...

The ruins of Ani in Kars are on the outskirts of the city of Kars and near the border with Armenia. They are a large collection of ancient churches, built inside the walls of an ancient Armenian kingdom. Nicknamed “city of 1001 churches,” excavation and restoration took place in the last century to rebuild a number of notable structures.

Akdamar Armenian Church in Van

Lake Van is the largest lake in Turkey and the highest point. Ideal times to visit are in summer because winter weather elements are harsh with temperatures often plunging into the minuses. Many civilizations have ruled over the area in the past including the Armenians, Byzantines and Seljuks. As a result, not only is a place of natural beauty but there is plenty of historical attractions to visit including the castle, Church of the Holy Cross and ancient Armenian monasteries.

Mardin is a contender for the UNESCO World Heritage Site list because of its ancient buildings with Arabic architecture trends. The narrow cobbled streets leading down the hillside often feature in most publications about the southeast of Turkey. Nearby sites to see include the ruins of Dara, an old Roman city, the old town of Midyat and Deyrulzafaran monastery belonging to the Syriac Orthodox religion.

Mardin

Visit to Troy " Legendary City"

Troy is another highlight and touristic place located in Northwest Turkey. You might be surprised to hear that Troy is in Turkey as many people think its in Greece.

Troy

You can visit the legendary city of Troy while travelling from Gallipoli to Izmir. Listed as a UNESCO world heritage site since 1998, excavations started in 1865. It took a lot of hard work and research before archaeologists were convinced they have found Troy.

First excavations made by Heinrich Schliemann who was a professional thief but introduced himself as an archaeologist. He destroyed most of the ruins while searching for the treasures. So not much to see on ground except bases of some buildings and a wooden horse which represents the horse used by Greeks. Nowadays horse occupied by Japanese tourists. 

Legendary Horse of Troy

During the Trojan War, Greeks used a large, man-made wooden horse to enter the legendary city of Troy. Inside sat elite fighters who waited until night before creeping out and opening the gates to let the rest of their army in.

Some historians have suspected that the story is fabricated and the wooden horse was simply a large wooden ram, however they all agree that the city was located near Canakkale. 

Troy Today

The Battle of Gallipoli and Anzac Tour

At the time of World War One, Canakkale was under Ottoman rule, however they were on the losing side of the war. Their empire was due to be carved up and divided among the winning forces. A few select men managed to rise everyone up against this invasion and the Turkish war of independence started.

Anzac Soldiers in Gallipoli

The battle of Gallipoli took place when the French and British attempted to gain control of the Dardanelles strait, a strategic and important point. They however made one small error that cost them the battle; they landed on the wrong beach. 

Thousands of men died in the battle that lasted for many months under horrific conditions. Every year, on the morning of April the 25th, dawn services start to commemorate Anzac day. New Zealanders and Australians travel to Turkey to honour the memories of the fallen and their ancestors.

Gallipoli Memorials

The most popular places to visit in Gallipoli ;

·      Brighton Beach,

·      Beach Cemetery,

·      ANZAC Cove,

·      Ariburnu Cemetery,

·      ANZAC Commemorative Site,

·      Respect to Mehmetcik Statue

·      Lone Pine Australian Memorial,

·      Johnston's Jolly, (Turkish and Allied trenches and tunnels),

·      57. Regiment Turkish Memorial

·      The Nek,

·      Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial, 

·         Namazgah Battery,

·         Rumeli Mecidiye Battery,

·         Seyit Onbaşi (Corporal Seyit),

·         Top of Alcitepe, (Achibaba)

·         Turkish Memorial,

·         French Cemetery,

·         V Beach,

·         Ertugrul Battery,

·         Helles Memorial,

·         Lancashire Landing Cemetery,

·         X Beach, Twelve Trees Copse Cemetery,

·         Alcitepe (Krithia) 

Trip to Canakkale-Gallipoli and Troy

On the North West coast of Turkey, sits the Dardanelles straits and within that is the famous town of Canakkale. It belongs to both Asia and Europe but that is not the reason for its popularity.

Map of Canakkale

Most people visit because of two connections; it is the closest town to the ancient and historical site of Troy. It is also sadly, where the battle of Gallipoli took place and over 50,000 men lost their lives. 

Canakkale is 7 hours drive away from Istanbul. Thus a day trip might be very tiring due to long drive so I definetely recommend a night stay in Gallipoli or Canakkale.

Sebi Arus Night and Whirling Dervishes Ceremony

Last Friday, we were able to attend Seb-i Arus Ceremonies in Istanbul. "Seb-i Arus" means Wedding Day as its the day of his reunion with his Beloved with the Divine.

Whirling Dervishes

Mevlana is very important Philosopher for us. Even today, the wisdom of this man who lived in the 13th century has earned him a place as one of the world’s bestselling poets.

The Ceremony started with the concert of Tasavvuf Musicians, who were dressed in traditional clothes.

Tasavvuf Musicians

Dervishes Greeted each other before the ceremony...

Then they started to whirl...

Then amazing ritual of the Dervishes started ...