Dec 5 + 6 Bursa (Updated)

It is hard to think what Bursa would have meant to us if we hadn’t met Ahmet, and Anne. The treat of staying at the Hotel Gunes is the chance occurrence (very strong chance at that) with Ahmet in the hotel lobby. By using the word Hotel, we hope you are not conjuring images of the holiday inn. Hotel Gunes is a very small place set inside a renovated Ottoman House in a bustling little market area. The lobby is often dimly lit with the older couple that owns the joint sitting on the couch staring at the ironic television. They do not speak much English beyond the most basic of phrases, but after being highlighted as Lonely Planets top pick for budget hotel in Bursa, receive probably the highest number of independent travelers and backpackers, of all hotels in Bursa. Ahmet, being a man of curiosity with an aptitude for conversation in all things related to “living” (as in living life to it fullest, blah blah) with his deep seeded love for his city Bursa, has taken full advantage of Hotel Gunes’s, Lonely Planet stature. He is quick to claim Bursa as simply “the best city anywhere,” and with Ahmet as a guide and an Irish Anne to keep the attraction of his eye; he is pretty close to being accurate.

Upon our first encounter with Ahmet, we immediately had a two-day itinerary hand written into our notebook. We had only planned for one whole day there, but we were open to change, as always, and, of course, that change quickly came with mention of “Hamam” (also known as Turkish Bath).

We got to work on the Itinerary on our own with plans to meet with Ahmet later that evening t a tea house to listen to traditional music. We shopped in the wonderful bazaar, visited a shadow puppet master’s shop, visited some wonderful Ottoman sites, including the Green Mosque Tomb, full of amazing tile work. We then returned to the hotel to drop of a few things before heading out for a bite to eat.

Then came Anne. Oh Anne. The 66, going on 26, year old German-Irish wonder. Anne. What a treat. Jowita will surely never forget her first visit to a Hamam if it weren’t for Anne.

Ahmet was a wonderful guide and conversationalist. Our experience of Bursa, with the aid of his expertise, and the chance meeting with Anne, is way up at the top of the list, (not that we keep one). We give many thanks to Ahmet, and hope to see him again in round 2.