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Ankara is about as European as
Turkey gets. There are touches
of the mystical east if you know
where to look but the vast
majority of the city is 20th
century through and through.
Ankara is a huge university town
and you'll find the streets of
Kizilay and the bars of Sakarya
thronged with students for most
of the year. Capital city status
and the presence of language
schools and the above mentioned
universities has brought a
sizeable ex pat community to
Ankara and all this adds to the
western feel of the place. All
the wings of the military are
based here and Saturday
afternoon finds Genclik Park
(fountains, funfair, boat rides)
full of strolling conscripts in
their various uniforms.
A lot of foreigners are here on
business but tourism is
beginning to have an impact on
various aspects of the city.
Ankara is a reasonably
convenient place to base
yourself if you want to travel
Anatolia, Cappadocia or the
Black Sea coast and a growing
number of tour operators and
related service industries are
catering to tourists. There is
accommodation here at all
levels, with prices pegged below
those of Istanbul or the south
coast, and the new bus station
(ASTI) is probably the most
useful transport hub in Turkey
with services to just about
anywhere that's feasible (The
Lebanon is only 16 hours away if
you're feeling adventurous). |
