Travel Highlights

Ankara

Ankara, the capital of Turkey, is located in the northwest of the Anatolian Plateau on the Anatolian Peninsula. It is Turkey's second-largest city after Istanbul and a center of politics, economy, culture, transportation, and trade, earning it the nickname "The Heart of Turkey." Ankara is a city steeped in history, its history dating back to antiquity. Today, Ankara boasts numerous historical sites, including the Roman Julian Column and Temple of Augustus; the Byzantine castle and necropolis; the Seljuk-era Aladdin Mosque; and the Ottoman-era Mehmed Pasha and Mehmed Bazaars.

Ankara, Turkey's capital, has rapidly developed from the slopes of the Angora River and is Turkey's second-most populous city. This modern European metropolis is dotted with relics from various stages of its history. Ancient castles and relics from Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman civilizations dot the city. This modern city houses government and state offices, a major university, a military base, and consulates. (1) Anıtkabir (2) Ankara Castle (3) Column of Julian (4) Column of Julian (5) Temple of Augustus (6) Hacı Bayram-ı Veli Türbesi Mosque is a must-visit attraction.

Ankara's traffic chaos is probably second only to Istanbul. Although it's a relatively new city, the level of traffic chaos is truly astonishing. Driving into the city (to find our hotel, New Park Hotel) was a real challenge! The sheer volume of people, cars, and buildings meant missing a turn was a simple mistake. The alleys and roads were lined with cars, and pedestrians ignored traffic rules, weaving in and out of any gaps in the road. Driving was incredibly stressful. The traffic was actually a bit like Taipei, but the only difference was that we were unfamiliar with it. Fortunately, this was unique to us; other cities were much simpler. Since our hotel was located on a main road and lacked parking, we had to park on the pedestrian walkway below, which was another test of our driving skills.

Kemal Atatürk Memorial Hall

The Kemal Atatürk Memorial Hall, also known as the Father of the Turkish Nation Memorial Hall, is the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, leader of the Turkish War of Independence. Completed in September 1953, the memorial's overall design blends elements of ancient Western Empire and Greco-Roman temple architecture. The memorial's architectural style remains a masterpiece of modern Turkish architecture, and the hourly changing of the guard ceremony is a highlight.

Because the weather forecast for tomorrow was bad, we took advantage of the sunny afternoon to visit the mausoleum of Kemal Atatürk, the founder and first president of the Republic of Turkey. The mausoleum is magnificent and accessible by car, but requires security checks. We had large luggage that we had to unload after leaving it behind. Before entering the mausoleum on foot, we pass through a vast brick courtyard and a grand avenue lined with Neo-Hittite stone statues and monuments beneath colonnades. The most famous monument in the complex is the monument to General İsmet İnönü, a close comrade of Atatürk and Atatürk himself. His tomb lies beneath it. We encountered a group of university graduates taking photos in the square, as well as newlyweds and tourists. The square was packed, but the crowds seemed like ants, especially considering its vast size. We arrived at 4:30 PM and didn't realize it closed at 5:00 PM, so we didn't stay long. We didn't have the opportunity to visit the museum, so we only took photos of the square's buildings and the handsome guards.

Changing of the Guard

The gaps between the paving tiles here are quite large, and Wei Li accidentally tripped and fell.

Graduates of the Medical School took a group photo at the ceremony

By chance, we met a handsome man and a beautiful couple who came here to take wedding photos. Wei Li got the permission of the couple to take a photo together to capture the beautiful moment.

Ankara Castle

Ankara Castle is one of the oldest attractions in the Turkish capital, with a history dating back to the Roman, Seljuk, and Ottoman empires. Overlooking the city from its perch, it reveals a millennia-long history, making it a popular attraction for tourists and locals alike. Although the exact date of its initial construction is unknown, some believe that the Hittites (an ancient empire that ruled north-central Anatolia from 1600 BC), who had a military fortress in Ankara, built Ankara Castle. However, due to the lack of archaeological evidence to confirm this fact, the castle is more often associated with the Roman, Byzantine, and Seljuk eras, during which time the structure underwent several renovations.

The castle is surrounded by some old ancient buildings, which are in sharp contrast with the new modern buildings in the distance.

There's another castle in the distance

From a distance, the city of Ankara is very large, and you can enjoy the grandeur of the city from 360 degrees.

Shops around the castle

Temple of Augustus

The Augustus Temple, though only two stone walls remain, is the only place in the world where one of Augustus' four great inscriptions, the Deeds of Deified Augustus, is preserved, inscribed in Latin and Greek, dating back to 1800-1900. The Temple of Augustus and Rome is a monument to Augustus located in the Altındağ district of Ankara. It is believed to have been built around 25-20 AD. Besides being one of the city's most important Roman-era sites, it is also known for its Ancyranum Monument. This inscription depicts the works of Augustus, considered the first Roman emperor. It is the most complete copy of the Res Gestae Divi Augusti that has survived to this day, as the original Roman version has disappeared.

Haci Bayram Mosque

Hacı Bayram-ı Veli, whose real name was Numan-bin Koyunluca Ahmet, was born in 1352 (753 AD) in the village of Solfasol, Ankara. He was the founder of the Bayramite order and a Sufi poet and hymn composer. It is located in Ankara's Ulus district, adjacent to the Temple of Augustus. Construction began in 1427/28 AD, and the mosque today exhibits the characteristics of late 17th and 18th-century mosques. It has a longitudinal rectangular plan, with the northern and western sections being later additions. On the southeast wall of the mausoleum stands a two-aisled minaret with a square plan, stone base, and brick structure. The Word of God (Kelime-i Tevhid) is inscribed in large Arabic calligraphy (sülüs) on the projecting southern wall of the later section.

We stumbled upon this mosque by accident. We had originally intended to visit the Temple of Augustus, but didn't realize they shared the same address. Our GPS took us here, but since there was no roadside parking, we ended up parking in the underground parking lot. It was so large and dark, we were worried we wouldn't be able to get out. We, two Asians, felt like outliers here, especially Wei Li, who was wearing a skirt that looked out of place against the tight-fitting black Islamic attire. Fortunately, they were all very friendly.

I don't know if there are too many people inside and they need to sit outside, but the temple has prepared a lot of straw mats for believers to sit on.

This mosque seems to be very popular. There are a lot of people.

There was a queue next to the men's restroom waiting for foot washing. Clean water was provided outside the mosque for people to wash their feet. Only after cleaning was completed could they enter the temple. I accidentally saw such a strange foot washing scene because I wanted to go to the restroom.

After entering the mosque to pray, someone was handing out candies outside the mosque. Everyone rushed to get some, but they were too embarrassed to do so.

Uygur Restaurant Xinjiang Noodles

Just a three-minute walk from our New Park Hotel, there's a Chinese restaurant owned by a Turkish man who traveled to China to study the language and cook. That evening, we ordered some authentic Chinese food accompanied by a pot of Turkish tea. It was truly delicious. We ordered so much that we packed up and enjoyed it the next day as lunch at a rest stop.

I wanted to order lamb skewers, but the boss suggested stir-fried lamb with onions.

Mapo Tofu

Kung Pao Chicken

New Park Hotel is the hotel we stayed in Ankara. Since Ankara is a big city and there are relatively few B&Bs, it was nice to stay in a hotel.

The hotel's morning buffet is quite rich. The main feature is that they have fresh beehives to provide honey, and Yogurt with various fruit jams is very special.

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