The Turks are the most hospitable, friendly, and helpful people I’ve ever encountered. They usually go well out of their way to make sure their guests feel welcome in their country or city. I’ve always met people curious of foreigners, many eager to ask questions about me and compliment my bad Turkish, and others who happily want to practice their English for a few minutes. When I rolled into Afyon, I was expecting the same, but Afyon is different. Afyon is a Turkish parallel universe.
Kütahya has a small collection of nicely restored Ottoman mansions, and the best ones sit along cobblestoned Germiyan Street (Germiyan Sokağı).
Kütahya Castle (Kütahya Kalesi) occupies the highest point in Kütahya. The area has been occupied since ancient times. The castle was originally built by the Byzantines and restored by the Ottomans. I decided to hike up to the castle after exploring the city center and visiting some museums.
I visited three different museums on my trip to Kütahya. They’re all located near each other at the end of Republic Street.
Kütahya is not on the tourist trail but it’s an interesting city nonetheless. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. It’s a pleasant city, the people are friendly, and there are plenty of things to see. I had busy day visiting restored Ottoman homes, historic mosques, museums, and a ruined castle.
There are several restaurants to choose from in Sharm el-Sheikh. All of the restaurants we tried are located in Na’ama Bay. A few stuck out from the rest.
Want to get off the beaten path in Istanbul? A good option is Kumkapı. This neighborhood on the shores of the Marmara Sea isn’t usually on the tourist radar. There are no big name attractions, but it’s nice to explore for a couple hours.
If you want peace and quiet, authentic Turkish hospitality, and gorgeous scenery, make your way Gölyazı. This tiny little town is situated a short ride west of Bursa on a small island in a large lake, Lake Uluabat (Uluabat Gölü).
I found food in Bodrum to be generally overpriced and of low quality. It’s a touristy town so that’s to be expected, but thankfully there are some good places to eat.