Travel Highlights

Konya

Konya, located in central Turkey, is famous for and the birthplace of the whirling dance. Whirling is not a performance, but rather a practice and ritual of Islamic Sufism, or mysticism. It was officially inscribed on the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list in 2008.

Konya was also an important site for early Christians, as the apostles Paul and Barnabas visited the city around 50 AD during their journey through Asia Minor. Paul preached in Konya, but this angered both Jews and Gentiles, forcing them to leave the city and travel to Derbe and Lystra. Besides the Church of the Revelation, Konya is actually Iconium, where Paul visited on three occasions during his missionary journey. There is no Christian presence in the area today, but the itinerary includes a visit to the Mevlana Museum, home to the tomb of Rumi, the Sufi saint of Islamic mysticism. Rumi is generally believed to be the founder of the Mevlevi Order of Islamic Sufism. Because Konya is so famous, many people assume he is Turkish, but he is actually Persian and is considered one of the four great Persian poets in Persia (today's Iran). (The four great Persian poets are Hafez, Saaid, Ferdowsi, and Rumi.)

Mevlana Meydanı Mosque

This massive domed mosque, located in the large central square of Mevlana Meydanı, lies in front of the Mevlana Museum. Commissioned by Sultan Selim II, it was built between 1566 and 1574. It is Konya's most impressive Ottoman-era mosque. When we arrived, a rainbow appeared in the sky, creating a unique view behind the mosque.

Mevlana Museum

This tekke (Sufi) complex, a symbol of Konya, houses the tomb of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, the 13th-century religious leader, philosopher, and poet who founded the Sufi order of whirling dervishes. The museum is nestled within a meticulously tended rose garden, and you can walk through the ornate Dervish Gate. Upon entering the complex, you enter the mausoleum, which remains a center of worship for many. Mevlana's tomb is at the far end, flanked by the tombs of close relatives and followers. The semahane (the hall where the whirling dervish dance ritual is performed) is to the left, housing a museum with religious exhibits. Opposite the tomb is the hut room, which houses a diorama of dervish life and is connected to the dervish quarters where Sufi followers lived, now housing exhibits on dervish life.

The main building has a unique green tiled cylindrical dome

Before entering, you will be asked to cover your shoes with thin plastic bags to keep the interior clean.

Plastic bag overshoes

Beneath the dome lies the tomb of Rumî himself, covered with a shimmering gold cloth.

Two large rooms once used for the Mevlevi whirling sema ritual are now filled with glass cases displaying exhibits of Mevlevi historical artifacts.

Devout believers come to these hadiths (quotations from the Prophet) to pray silently and kneel down.

The courtyard hut opposite the mausoleum houses a three-dimensional model of the life of an ascetic monk

Bedesten Çarşı Market

This market is the heart of Konya. It offers everything from food to daily necessities and clothing. It's incredibly large, leaving you spoiled for choice. The fruit stalls surrounding it are truly amazing. Of all the fruit we've bought, this one was the sweetest, especially the cherry and apricot fruits.

The store is filled with glittering gold bracelets, necklaces and other precious decorations

On my way to the market, I ran into two female college students selling instant coffee at the intersection. I even took a close-up photo of the one with Baotou on the far right. She had pretty features. She left her email address, so I sent the photo to her when I got back to the US.

Azizia Mosque

Architecture enthusiasts shouldn't miss the Azizia Mosque. Originally built in 1676 by Ottoman court advisor Mustafa Pasa, it was rebuilt again in 1867 after a fire. Due to this 19th-century restoration, the mosque's architecture is heavily influenced by the Baroque style (the most popular style of the time), featuring Rococo-style twin minarets and a brightly colored interior with Rococo-style prayer niches. This distinctly European decorative style creates an interesting contrast with traditional mosque design.

Sifa Restaurant When we were walking back to the hotel after visiting the market, we saw an advertisement for a restaurant that advertised delicious grilled meat, so we decided to go in for dinner. Sure enough, several dishes are still unforgettable to this day. The most special ones are the eggplant soup and grilled lamb, which are especially delicious when sandwiched on their flatbread. The waiter also taught me how to eat it from time to time, which was really great. Finally, a cup of Turkish coffee perfectly ended the day's trip.

This time we stayed at the Araf Hotel, located in a small alley across from the mosque. The location was excellent, within walking distance of the city center and the market. Their traditional Turkish breakfast was incredibly simple, and I could only look at it, not eat it.

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