Better Than a Mall-Ulus

We've been to four different malls while here and they're just like shopping in the US.  Cepa and Kent Park are nearby, with Armada another couple of miles down the road.  And, IKEA is attached to a mall.  But, the old Ulus section of Ankara makes you really feel like you are in a different time and country.  It's also far enough and different enough that we felt like we were on vacation, a little bit.  The rest of the time we're working. The students can't believe we liked it in Ulus, when there are modern malls just down the road.  But more than shopping, Ulus is an experience.  

There are a few little cafes along the merchant streets.  We ate traditional Turkish food  with Laura and Jan.

We went to Ulus two weekends ago with Jan and another teacher, Laura.  We took the university bus to the base of the hill in Ulus, taxied to the castle, and then took the subway and city bus back to the lojman.  We ordered a piece of copper artwork, and had to go back this past Saturday to get it.  So, the university bus again, but this time we walked to the shopping area.  Steve and Barbara, along with the new economics teacher, John, also made the trip.  (yeah! John being here means no more econ for me).  We then learned how to find the bus stop for the return trip. 

So, this past Saturday, just two days ago, we shopped in the more modern area of Ulus first, and their prices for goods are much better than the malls'.  A man's suit, made in Turkey costs about 400 TL, from Sarar, a big Turkish suit brand.  They had a couple of stores along the way and other stores, clothing and jewelry mostly, lined the streets.   The old market/bizarre/shop area is built into the side of a hill, and is away from the modern shops and streets.  

The "wide" two way street below

The old market areas

The streets are all basically one lane cobble stone, and cars should not try to travel through, but a few do. Yikes! The shops are very small, some only 6-8 feet wide and less than 10 feet deep. Most have merchandise spilling out into the streets.  I could explain lots, but pictures are better, so this posting will be more pictures than words.  '

Two weekends ago we were the first to purchase merchandise from this shop in the morning.  For their good luck they gave each (4) of us a free scarf.  The woman wove this around me in the "Turkish" style.  After I walked around the corner, I put it on "American" style.  

The market/bizarre area is loaded with fabrics, kitchen ware, and rugs.

The next four pictures are all taken in the same shop, as I pivoted around from the same spot

L

Steve, Barbara, John (new guy) and Peggy enjoying cay-tea (pronounced chi) in this shop.  We purchased nothing, but they offer cay in most shops.  They call and within 2 minutes a young man comes from outside with a tray of cay.  Last Saturday, we had nice hot cay, served in hourglass shaped glasses with 2 cubes of sugar, in 3 different shops.  

Two Saturdays ago we ordered a copper pot we liked from Ishan Geredeli, a pretty famous copper designer.  Today he was outside his shop, a very spacious shop compared to others, and was stamping a bowl.  

Peggy and Ishan with our handmade pot.  We placed another order with him for a cross that Peggy designed on the back side of a calendar.  Mehmet, from across the street, whose English is better than Ishan's, came to interpret our wishes to Ishan.  Looks like we'll be going back again in a couple of weeks! 

Look mom.  No hands.  Loaded with round breads/pretzels called simet.

The primary and largest mosque is in the distance.  It's importance can be seen with its four minarets.  There are mosques here every few blocks, just like different churches in the US.  Most mosques only have one minaret, or none.  From the hill it's often smoggy or hazy with clouds down in the valley.

Today started our first one week break.  We have a couple of day trips out of town planned, a "tourist" day here in Ankara, and then off to Cappidocia on Friday. Our plans to leave Turkey were changed since we don't yet have our official Turkish visa, and without it, we won't be allowed back in the country.  We should have them by February 20.