As I mentioned in a previous post, we chilled out in Bursa for a couple days with our friends to get away from the stress and chaos of work.  Besides Uludağ, Bursa is also known for many historical sites, especially its mosques and tombs.

Ulu Cami (Great Mosque)

Bursa was once the capital of the Ottoman Empire and many traces of that heritage remain in the city.  In the short bursts of time during which we were not climbing up mountains and playing board games until the crack of dawn, we managed to see some of the city.

More than anything, we indulged in a ridiculous amount of good Turkish food, including the original Iskender.

If it were up to me, I’d replace half of that meat with more of that delicious, smoky eggplant

Best sahlep (hot orchid milk with cinnamon) I’ve had so far!

We also managed to run into a crowd of adorable school girls who were eager to practice their English skills. (“Hello, how are you?  Where are you from?  Bye bye!”)

After one last glass of çay, it was time to hop on the bus (which in turn would hop onto a ferry…coolest route ever!) and head back to reality.

Aboard the ferry

My biggest regret is that I didn’t make it to the Green Mosque before we left.  I guess that just means I’ll have to go back!