Turkey Day 2 ~ Road-trip and a day in Bursa
Day two we were on the road heading to Bursa. We would be leaving the European side of Turkey and spending most of our trip in Asia. Bursa is Amazing!
The Valens Aqueduct (we’re in the bus driving)
Rainy Day! I’ve never seen so many beautiful mosques!
They’re everywhere!
Ortaköy Mosque on The Bosphorus Built in 1721
Mimar Sinan Mosque (Atasehir, Istanbul)
Moi at a rest-stop after buying Lime Mints!
My skin you guys! I figured no need to hide because if you run into me you know what to expect!
It was WINDY! As you can tell I was so excited to be off the bus and finally at Bursa. Our first Stop was at the Green Mosque aka Mosque of Mehmed I (built between 1419-1421). Say What?!!! and I have to fight with contractors over everything that’s already prefab SMH
I just want to know HOW?! Look at the carvings & that calligraphy!
Look again and let that sink in! 1400s by hand!
And I coincidently matched the interior! Bare feet and all! It’s a WIN when you match old interiors!
Hand Painted!
Love!
Parisian doors are the bomb! but man! look at this! and…..I MATCH!
Farewell Green Mosque! Till next time Inshallah (God Willing).
Our next stop was at Cumalıkızık Village. Poverty was apparent here unlike all the glamorous places i’ve seen but what I noticed is that they have abundance of the things that they grow/make. Even if poor they were well fed which isn’t poor I suppose. The people were friendly, proud, and very generous but man I would have brought different shoes going up and down those stone roads.
The people here operate their businesses from home. They live upstairs and have shops/set-ups along the road. Everything is handmade! I bought some jewelry, and some mulberry jam that an old lady made in her kitchen.
More walking led us to the cutest little GEM in town!
Cumalikizik Mosque! Small and primitive but literally a hidden gem!
Can you imagine how lucky and grateful I felt being able to pray in different mosques on different lands! #blessed
The little colorful upstairs where I prayed!
On my way down wasn’t easy as there was no rail or anything but the stairs at floor level so first I had to sit then go down! I just notice my TOE HA! too late I’m not editing now…sigh
Another short drive and we were at Osman Gazi’s Grave. Ozman Gazi aka Ozman I was the founder of the Ottoman Empire. He’s the son of Ertugrul! I’m on season 5 of watching the Turkish drama “Ertugrul” and I hear that it’s available on Netflix for all the english speaking viewers. You guys will never watch anything more enticing and it will give you a lot of incite on Islamic culture ( and I use that term loosely)
A water fountain right outside the tomb.
Right outside Osmangazi!
Then we stopped by Nalbantoglu Mosque in the Osmangazi district in Bursa. It was jam packed because it coincided with the birth of the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him.
Sitting on the steps outside.
Then on the same block they have a huge Bazaar. Kind of like “ok so you were spiritual all day so why not entice yourself in some worldly pleasure” that’s exactly how I felt. A little guilty.
So many scarves! I mean Bursa was the center of silk trade during both the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. How can you not be a “hijabi” when all this is at your disposal?
Got some goodies while admiring this beautiful tiled floor. Give me all the SILK!
After a long long day of exploring the beautiful Bursa! I was time for dinner. Behind me in this restaurant is a REAL pomegranate tree.
Then Desert….
One must always end with Turkish Coffee….
Then I was so thankful to make it to the hotel because my feet weren’t having it anymore!
A long shower was in order then bedtime for more adventures the next day.