INTRODUCTION
I want to remind for the readers, that I
am Anatolij from rainy country Lithuania and I went to Turkey to make my EVS.
11 months already passed, my EVS comes to the final end, but it is so nice to
come back to time and remember what interesting happened with me in this long
term. Of course it is not a short story, but I will try to mention the most
important moments in this period.
COMING
TO KAYSERI AND ADOPTATION
I came to
Kayseri in February, to be concrete February, 4. In the beginning nothing
strange happened to me, I have been in Turkey already 2 times before my EVS and
more or less knew what is waiting for me. Just I haven’t been in the center of
Turkey, in Kayseri, but I didn’t expect how important for me this city will
become. Kayseri is exactly the city in which I would like to stay, it is not
big, not overcrowded like other big cities in Turkey, it has a soul and I also
left my heart in this city. ❤ Even now I am living in Ankara, but use every
chance when I have free days to go to Kayseri. Also I have personal reasons why
Kayseri is so important for me, but it is too personal and I don’t want to
share about it in this blog. Just can say, that who knows me closer, they
understand me what I mean… J (Photo Nr. 1)
What is
interesting in Kayseri for me? It is located near Erciyes mountain, just 45 min
to Cappadocia, also has Ali mountain which I like to climb sometimes, has
really picturesque places and the most interesting place for me is Talas – a
district of Kayseri. I am proud to say that I lived in the center old town part
of Talas, in konak (Photo Nr. 2) – a very old building, made of stone bricks. I spend here
more than 4 months, but pleasant memories about this place will stay with me
forever! Every time when I was going outside of the building, I felt like I am
in a medieval place, everything is so old, massive and beautiful at the same
time. Of course there were some challenges for me also in this place, like
toilet and kitchen in the part of the building, that can be reached only by
going outside, but this memories now became not more than funny adventure. I am
not the person, who needs special conditions to live, so I easily adapted to
all small difficulties and spend really nice time and moments in this lovely
place… J I had some weeks to meet with my new living conditions and in the end of
February I had my first vacations.
GAZIANTEP,
ADANA AND ISTANBUL VISIT
During
my first vacations I decided to visit my friend from previous Erasmus+ project.
I went to unknown for me before city named Gaziantep. I was not so calm in the
beginning because this city is very close to Syria. I had some fears about this war situation in
Syria and calm down only then finally came to this city. I went to Gaziantep by
bus. I liked it, it was the end of
February, but the weather was so warm that I could easily walk just with shorts
and t-short. It was really big contrast for me, because when I left Kayseri, it
was completely winter with a lot of snow and minus 5 degrees below zero. On the
way from Kayseri to Gaziantep in the mountain temperature outside sometimes
were even minus 20 degrees below zero (Photo Nr. 3). But when I came to Gaziantep everything
there were green, trees with a lot of leaves, even with yellow mandarins and
oranges. I spend just some hours in Gaziantep, saw the Gaziantep castle (Photo Nr. 4), city
center, tried the most tasty baklava, bought Antep pistachios and went to next
city called Adana.
By weather
conditions, Adana is similar with Gaziantep, also so warm and sunny. I stayed
in Adana in my new friends house for some days, but I can’t say it were simple
and ordinary days. With my friends we ate every time in different places, went
to live music concert, visited many picturesque places along all Adana lake,
also botanic park in Adana (Photo Nr. 5), a lot of activities. But the most interesting
thing happened when my friends were busy and I had whole day to explore Adana
by myself. I like walking so much, so I went by foot. In the beginning nothing
special, I was walking along the Adana lake, making photos, admiring nature…
When suddenly I reached Adana dumb. There was no way for pedestrians to walk,
so I went by grass. I walked till the end of dumb and noticed beautiful big
flag of Turkey. It was the biggest flag that I saw, so I made photos of it (Photo Nr. 6) and
went further. I noticed near me a fenced and secured territory with cameras,
signalization and other staff.
I went along this fence when suddenly a
policeman called me and asked to come. I came and he started to ask a lot of
questions, who am I, what I am doing here, asked to show my ID card, passport, my
bag pack. But the funniest moment was when he asked me to stand near the fence,
told to put my arms on the wall and he started to check me like I am a
criminal. He asked do I have something like knife or a gun in my pocket… J Honestly, it was first time somebody checking
me like that, in the airport it is different, but I was so calm about it. Two
more officers came, we were talking, smiling, they tried to check by my ID and
passport all info about me, they also called my friends. Also they checked all
my photos and deleted some. When checking finished they explained what was the
problem. In Turkey after July 15th accident, when military wanted to
take power in the country government started special security situation. A lot of
people were sent to jail, situation is still difficult. So this check was
because of this. In the end we smile to each other, shacked each other hands
even two times and they wished me good stay in Turkey, but warned not to make
photos of military or important governmental places. Later, I explained my all
adventure to my friends, sometimes we laughed, sometimes it was not so funny,
but it is good that finished without any consequences. Even when I was going home
for my vacations to Lithuania, I was afraid that in the airport they will ask
something about this situation or I can have problems. So my adventure in Adana
finished, I packed my staff and went to Istanbul to meet with my colleague
Mindaugas, who also was a volunteer like me, came to Kayseri some days later
and had on-arrival project in Istanbul in that time.
I came to Istanbul by plane, my friends leaded me to
the airport of Adana early in the morning and before 12 I was already in
Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen airport on the Asian part of Turkish capital. I needed
more than 1 hour to reach Istanbul city center called Taxim to meet with my
colleague Mindaugas. We met at about 14 and directly went to the hotel which we
booked before. The stayed in Fatih district, most touristic place in Istanbul.
In Turkish capital I was not the first time, I knew the city and was like a
guide to my colleague. I showed some interesting places, we went to Grand
Bazaar, were sitting near Blue Mosque and Ayah Sophia, made 2 hours Basehor
tour (Photo Nr. 7), a lot of activities in these short 3 days. I felt really pleasant,
relaxed and happy to have these vacations just in the beginning of my EVS. I
came to Kayseri on February 27 in the evening and next day February 28 I had my
31st Birthday.
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