şanlıurfa

Monday 11.23

As we were walking the streets toward the bus station and somehow we ended up with someone with a delivery mini-van that needed to go to Urfa to pick-up something.  So we took a private mini-van from Gaziantep to Urfa for just 10 TL each.

We stayed at an awesome hotel, which I spotted.  We were walking around trying to find a hotel and I saw this sign.  After walking through the tight ally to follow the sign we were surprise to find an old mansion that was been converted to a hotel.   Made of big blocks of stone, tall ceilings and tall wooden doors, this place looked grand.  And all for only 15 TL /night.  Of course like always,  bargaining. 

Urfa is a much bigger city than Gaziantep.  It is very much like Ankara with big shops like LC- Wakiki.  However, there were more ladies wearing head scarves.  I noticed that many people were wearing a light lavender head scarves. 

We saw the Urfa castle, the cave where Abraham was born and the “legendary Pool of Sacred Fish (Balikligöl) where Abraham was thrown into the fire by Nimrod. The pool is in the courtyard of the mosque of Halil-ur-Rahman, built by the Ayyubids in 1211 and now surrounded by attractive gardens designed by architect Merih Karaaslan … the courtyard is very peaceful and it is said that if you see a white fish you will go to heaven” (Wikipedia). 

We ate kebab and bought lots of those tiny pastries.  We went to a shop where they sold bras, hats, socks and such.  The girl working there was so nice.  She was wearing a head scarf but working in a store that sold lingerie.  I know I should conclude that those who wears a head scarf is conservative, but I can’t help making that link. OH, the cashier asked where I’m from, and said something “Ben….Amerika”, so I thought he said he has been or want to go.  But after some gestures I interpreted that he wants to get marry with me and go to America. Oh dear! Haha.

HOTEL:  Beyade Konak,  15 TL/night 
PRIVATE MINI-VAN from Gaziantep to Urfa,  10 TL/person

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