Ankara

Ankara is the second largest city in Turkey and home to almost 5 million people. Since 1923 it is the capital of the country. In Ankara, we visited 3 places:

 - Ankara Castle (Citadel) and a viewing platform
 - Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk
 - Museum of Anatolian Civilizations

We came to town in the evening, settled in the center and went for a walk. After half an hour walk we understand that something wrong with the air, but at that time did not realized what happened. Next morning, when climbed the hills near the castle, we found the reason. Ankara is on the list of cities with the dirtiest air. The reason is simple -  people use charcoal, because of expensive gas. Look at the next picture and you will understand.

We found the photo  of 2012 year and smog was no longer visible. Perhaps the city authorities did something about improving air quality, or maybe smog is visible only in the morning.


People come to the castle to see beautiful scenery of the city, try to come earlier. The castle itself is very old and its foundation date is not known, the first information relates to 1071.






There is a historic district with a lot of touristic shops around the castle hill.


Some streets have not yet been restored and look like this.


The main attraction of Ankara - mausoleum and  tomb of the founder and first president of the Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk "Anitkabir", which was built in 1944-53 years (website in English). There is almost no people on our pictures, except for a group of children, since we came early in the morning, but in general it is one of the most visited places in Turkey.


When we came there we were approached by a man in a suit who spoke in Russian:

  - Hello, who are you and what are doing here?
  + We are tourists
  - There are no tourists in Ankara!
  + Really? And then who we are? :)

It turned out that high-ranking Russian officials visited the mausoleum that day and security officers were checking territory in the morning. A group of children came to the mausoleum to welcome officials.








We also visited the main museum of Turkey, one of the richest museums in the world - the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. Most of the exhibits are various antiquity, like coins, vessels, instruments and so on. There is a cookware dated to 4000 BC, statuette dated to 5750 BC, gold cup dated to 3000 BC. There are many more recent and thus more surviving things like convertible table of King Midas (8th century BC).

Museum owes its development Kemal Ataturk. It is curious that the main building (at the next photo), is located in a covered market of the Ottoman era (15th century). In 1997 museum received the prize "Best museum in Europe".










Virtual tour to the museum
Museum website (only in Turkish)

Useful links:
Ankara metro


Getting there: International Airport Ankara Esenboğa is located in 28 kilometers from the city center. Use Havas buses ($5, 45-60 minutes, route and stops) to go from the  airport to the bus station Ashti (AŞTİ). If you need to get to the train station, then leave the bus on the stop Havaş City Terminal. In 2014 is expected opening of the high-speed railway line Istanbul - Ankara (www.tcdd.gov.tr). Taxis from the airport costs $27 - $36. Istanbul and Ankara are connected by the best highway in the country, with a length of 450 kilometers.