Izmir, Turkey
Izmir has been my home for the past year and I thought it deserved its own page. Izmir is unlike any other city in Turkey. Izmir is one of the oldest cities in the Mediterranean world. Dating back 8500 hundred years, 3rd millennium BCE., the Greek settlement of Troy was first established here. During the Roman Empire, Smyrna was one of the early seats of Christianity. During the Ottoman Empire, Izmir was occupied and captured by Greek forces. In 1922, under the reign of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Izmir was recaptured by the Turkish Army. Today, Izmir is the third largest city in Turkey, and its contemporary and modern buildings outline the city. Konak/Alsancak marks the city centre with beautiful sea views. Other districts include Karşıyaka, Mavişehir; where I live; Bornova, Buca, and Güzelbahçe. You can easily hop on the metro, tram, bus, or ferry to take you from once part of the city to another. For an hours drive, you can be in a sleepy, resort town of Urla, Alaçatı, ör Çeşme; all of which are definitely worth a visit. You can explore the narrow, cobblestone streets of Alaçatı, enjoying shopping, taking photographs, and eating at one of the many cafes and restaurants they have to offer. Then in the evening, you can go for a dip in the crystal, clear sea in Çeşme. If neither of those are to your liking, you can head to the mountains and explore Şirince. It offers a variety of wines for you to taste as well as restaurants and shops. I highly recommend the breakfast with the mountain view; its delightful. Or if you just fancy a stroll by the seaside, Izmir is your place. There’s endless walking paths and parks all along the seaside for people to enjoy a coffee while enjoying the sea views. Izmir offers something for everyone. It has delicious food, friendly people, whom many speak English, with tons of shopping and dining options. It was here where I had my first Neapolitan style pizza in Turkey in nearly 4 years. Izmir is truly a beautiful city and I’m fortunate to call, it my home.