Instanbul to Bursa

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After arriving in Istanbul the day before, we depart early in the morning for Bursa, but unfortunately catch the early morning rush hour. Istanbul, a city of over 10 million is on its way to work and we are caught up in the rush hour scramble. We leave Europe for Asia over the Bosphorus Suspension Bridge which was designed and built by the Brits and opened in 1973 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Turkish Republic.

Our trip south involves a short ferry trip across part of the Sea of Marmara. We are on the way to Bursa, which in 1326AD became the first capital of the Ottoman Empire. We reached Bursa by noon and had lunch in the centre of the silk market followed, in the afternoon, by visits to the impressive Green Mosque, which dates back to the 15th century, and the Green Tomb, a grand building containing the tombs of some of the Ottoman rulers and their families.

Our overnight stop was at a hotel in Bursa which has an ancient Turkish Bath adjoining it. It was still up and running and there I was able to experience a bathe, an exfoliating body scrub and a leg and back massage.Very refreshing and relaxing after a day's travelling

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Photos

Bridge over the Bosphorus
Leaving Europe for Asia

Queueing for entry to the mosque
This was a mild demonstration by local muslim woman to try and gain entrance to the Green Mosque during Friday prayers. They are not normally allowed into the main prayer area

A bystander
Wondering whether she should join in the demonstration

Part of Cumalikizik Village
We visited Cumalikizik Village with its traditional wooden houses and very narrow cobblestone streets situated a few miles outside Bursa