Hi.
So it appears as though I am now living in Turkey. You’ve seen my apartment, but I haven’t shown you around my neighbourhood yet. I live in Samanlı, a small… err… suburb? of Yalova – and Yalova is, technically, the smallest city in all of Turkey. It’s lovely. I really do like it here (even though the city centre is a 45 minute walk from my apartment).
We get frequent power outtages and there’s no central heating, but I have a kick-ass balcony, a senile old man for a landlord, and an amazing breakfast place down the road.
Exploring Samanlı
My street!
Just down the road...
Fresh jams and spreads.
Rad walkway.
Fırat making shisha. Göğceloğlu is his last name. And yes, it's even harder to pronounce than it looks.
Dinner.
Lunch for one. Less scary than Mr. Göğceloğlu's creation.
Delicious breakfast. Just down the road!
So I live about half way between Yalova city and Termal, famous for its natural hotsprings. Obviously we had to go check it out :)
Termal Hotsprings
Tas being awesome.
Yalova itself is beautiful. It’s right on the Sea of Marmara (across from Istanbul), has a lovely stretch of beachside restaurants and ice cream parlours and even a little fairground with bumper-cars! I work in Yalova, so on the days I decide not to walk in, I take these rad old buses into town.
Getting Around
Public transportation. When I don't walk, this is how I get to work.
Bus stop. But it's more fun to flag down the bus wherever you feel like it.
Riding the bus. Woo.
Usually I walk to work. On this awesome sidewalk.
Sometimes I see these guys.
The City of Yalova
Welcome to Yalova! I work just to the right of this bridge.
Frightening.
Drinking tea under a palm tree. Because why wouldn't you?
He didn't catch anything. I looked.
That thing in the middle is a giant chess board. Amazing.
Beach.
This walkway of marble slabs is actually a memorial... etched with the names of the thousands of Yalovans who died in the disasterous earthquake of 1999. <3
Restaurant seating!
Fountains. Palms. Beauty.
The fish man. He stinks up the street outside my work. Every. Day.
They misspelled my last name. ;)
The outdoor market in Yalova is pretty fantastic. And it’s cheap, cheap.
Yalova’s Bazaar
I am convinced that grapes in Turkey are the best grapes in the world. And $1.30 for a giant bag!
I wanted to buy everything.
Oh, and we can’t forget the nightlife!
So they took me to a bar…
So there you have it – a few snapshots from my life here in Yalova, Türkiye. The weather is starting to get cooler, and they say it might even snow! Crazy. At least when winter arrives, I’ll still have these kids to make me smile. :)
The Kids :)
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That sidewalk is pretty sweet haha. I’d say it’s more of a sidestep than a sidewalk
Isn’t it awesome? Haha. Thanks for the comment!! :)
So much awesome, for some reason It reminded me of a Plyometrics course! haha :)
Oh, absolutely!! :) haha
Love the skinny bus!
Me too! Thanks for the comment :)
Wow that sky is so blue! How lucky to be near the beach! That’ll be great fun in the summer!
Do you use a special programme to watermark your photos?
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I use Adobe Lightroom to export my photos to Flickr, and I set it up to impose a watermark as it completes the export. Super easy! :)
Love the lunch for one and I am laughing because the Sea of Marmara was a running joke while we were all there, ha. Not sure why now, but it sure provided some amusement for us!
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Haha, awesome! I wish you remembered what the joke was! ;)
Hi, I was stationed at Karimusel AS in 1968-70 with my family, went there with one son, came home with two son’s. We lived on Yalava the whole time. I heard that the earthquake of 1999 did a lot of damage. Most likely, the people I knew are gone or moved. We lived at at15 Fadice (spelling wrong). Our landlord lived above us and owned a women’s and children’s clothing store on the main drag. I do miss the town and the dark bread made from flour/sunflower seeds.
Great pics and insight into your life in Turkey. Sounds like there is much to explore and discover.
There is SO much to explore; I love walking and walking and just getting lost in it all. The best way to discover a new place. :) Thanks for the comment!
The guy at the Termal Hot Springs looks really impressed with the picture-taking time-out. :p
Your pictures are so lovely, Kristina! You’re such a great photographer.I’m glad you’re enjoying Turkey!
Haha! I never even noticed that- he looks pissed! ;) As for the pictures… I credit the quality to chance, not to skill. ;)
Those names on the rocks are the memorial of that huge earthquake in the late 90s.
Also, I’ve lived here for a year and haven’t even come close to putting something like this together. You’re so on top of it!
-Dev
Ah, right! Earthquake memorial, of course. Thanks!
Thank you so much for these pics of Yalova now. We lived there for a year in 1971, and are going back soon. Actually, we leave for Istanbul June 21, will be there for most of a week, and then plan on visting Yalova June 29th for the pazar and to look for our old apartment (then the ‘penthouse’ kitty-corner SW from the pazar.)
We are also hoping to reconnect with an old friend, Necmi Arslan, while we are there. Found him on the web doing an interview (Necmi Arslan, Farkı Yalova’da Hissetmek İçin – Yalova Haberleri), but don’t know how to connect with him. If you have any ideas, we would love to hear them!
Thanks again for the Yalova update. We are looking forward to seeing it again. –Jay Davis, Shoreline, WA
i was stationed at karamursel air station usaf for 18 mos. 69 to 70. yalova was close by and you to visit all the time. your town looks like yalova then. did a fair amount of travel there and really had a lot of fun. looks and sounds like you have a good life. good luck and god bless, steve
Steve, I was stationed with you from Aug,68 to Feb 70. I worked in the APO, so I k ow we ran o to one another a number of times.