Destination Aspiration: Safranbolu

To go to Turkey is to fall in love with it. It's also an exercise in frustration because there is far too much to see to smash it all into the standard two-week holiday that Americans are allowed each year. One of the places that we had to lop off of our itinerary was Safranbolu.

Image by Flickr user antonioperezrio.es

It was one of those grand travel lessons, though. We ended up trading it for Bodrum, which definitely has its charms, though far fewer of them in mid March. What we didn't take into consideration is that Bodrum, while lovely and in possession of one of my favorite restaurants in the world, is just not our style. It's a little bit flash for us. Now, take us to a village of architecturally cohesive, traditional buildings, throw in some shaded little markets, quiet atmosphere and a good handful of dust, and we're practically panting.

Image by Flickr user Olcii

Safranbolu is a little bit of living history, with its plethora of half-timbered Ottoman houses. Everything about it appeals to me aesthetically, and the fact that it's near the Black Sea makes it doubly interesting. We never got near that region, and I would love to learn more about its particular traditions (cough, textiles, cough) and environment (tea growing galore!). I've always disliked the idea that a big city can't represent a country as well as a small town can, so that's not why I want to go here. Megalopolises and villages both have their places in a country, so it's important to see the two sides and how they affect each other.

Images by Flickr user dharmabum90

Without a doubt, the thing that made Turkey so amazing was the people. I've never had bad experiences with people before (except Americans), but the friendliness, helpfulness and just care universally shown to us by people we met in hotels, restaurants and on the street was nothing short of flabbergasting. I can't wait to go back, simply to meet more of them.

Image by Flickr user jinli1