In a summer weather, the Mersin journey via Tarsus is coming to an end. I don’t even remember how many hours I’ve been on the road. Sometimes we laughed, sometimes we slept, and sometimes we spent time with the conversation that started without talking about the flooding of the service officer’s house.
Tarsus Bus Station is quiet. Several buses come and go. This bus station, called TAŞTİ, emphasizes how uncreative the municipality is.. This statement is valid not only for Tarsus but also for many cities.. How right it is to hang on to names, but I think we should get rid of the abbreviation disease.
This time we are returning to the Tarsus-Mersin direction by the shuttle bus.. A huge Nusret Minelayer stands out on the right of the road in the center of Tarsus.. This Turkish flagged ship was brought to Tarsus after an exciting journey.. In a sense, the ship, which was saved from being a razor, has been engraved in history as an example of loyalty.. The municipality should be congratulated for this work.
The two sides of the road are dusty and it has not been rained for a long time.
The phrase “a summer day” doesn’t actually apply here.. It’s like summer for 9 months of the year anyway.. You start to get bored after a certain time.
The port city phenomenon is very intricate.. Mersin, a city where trade develops with its factories, is one of the cities that add significant added value to our country.
After getting off some of the passengers at the bus station of Mersin, which looks like a village market, I candle the Tarsus Bus Station, which I am stuck with. I am searching. On the way to Pozcu, we pass Mersin City Stadium.. Mersin is one of the cities receiving immigration, and it is possible to see these traces around.
At last, our tiring journey comes to an end.. We’re going home with our bags. I want to throw myself home as soon as possible. 60-70-born taxis roaming the streets create an interesting sight. Since urban transportation is very cheap, using a taxi is unnecessary and luxury.. In this way, the economy that does not return and the taxis that do not replace come to mind.
My father used to say, “Even the smallest coin can pass in Mersin” years ago.. I could never understand this word. I kept thinking that the coins are not used all over Turkey, but only in Mersin.. My friend helps me find the meaning of the word. Life is cheap in Mersin. Living is easy! It is possible to buy something with even the smallest money in circulation.. That’s life, it means that some words can be understood after years…
We go to the roof to have a bird’s eye view of the city and drink a glass of water in the house we enter to have a so-called rest.. We are in September, at least if it is a little chilly; we’re officially roasting. It is not possible to step on the roof.. Surrounded by solar panels. We’re barely stepping up to the end of the roof. I examine the environment like this.
Everywhere is surrounded by systems like solar energy and water tanks. Not a single tiled roof. All houses have free access to hot water 24 hours a day with this system for 9 months.. Mersin, a city that is an example of the use of natural resources…
We say enough and go to the beach to get sea air.. On the way, we come across Muğdat Mosque.. The minarets of this mosque, which is one of the rare mosques with six minarets in Turkey, are very disproportionate.. Especially when you look closely, the errors in symmetry catch your eye.. Better to look from afar. Environmental arrangements around the mosque are extremely successful.. Beautiful green areas have been created.
We cross the seaside across the Meteorology Station.. Mersin Metropolitan Municipality Culture Park is in front of us with all its charm. An Atatürk quote about the press is placed in the middle of the park.
The beach, called Love Square, is full of walkers and children playing.. A beautiful view was provided by erecting columns. While watching the surroundings from the seaside, we can see Mersin Hilton in the distance.
We take the minibuses from the station and go to the city center this time.. A big square welcomes us from all over.
Mersin Cumhuriyet Square is a fascinating place with old palm and banana trees. hosts the scenery. The State Opera and Ballet building and the Atatürk Monument complement each other.
This square, where important concerts and festival events are held, is the most basic place that expresses Mersin in my opinion.. The products of the typical Mediterranean climate cannot be seen so clearly from anywhere else.. Compared to the palm trees in Izmir or other regions, the trunks of the palms here are as thin and long as possible.. I have never seen such tall and thin palm trees in one place in my life.
When the heat hits, we enter the Atatürk House and Museum on Atatürk Street.. This house, where Atatürk stayed for a few nights, also carries memories of Atatürk’s speeches to the public.
The house was restored by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.. A crowd of visitors roam the house during the hottest moments of the day.. After wandering around this two-storey house, we leave ourselves to the bazaar.
While walking around Kuvayi Milliye Street, we are greeted by old-fashioned taxis again.. Mersin is indeed a livable city.. It has such a contemporary look that it has not been spoiled much despite immigration.. Despite the occasional bad image, especially the coastal areas are free as if they are a country on their own.
I get food advice for my hungry stomach. We enter Gündoğdu Kebap on Silifke Street.
About the service in restaurants all over Turkey differences occur in cultural dimension. The dimension of this difference in Mersin is that water and salad come to the table free of charge after your order is taken.. You can fill your stomach while eating the salad, but be careful.
Gündoğdu Kebap offers Bursa’s İskender in such a way that it is the most delicious meal I have ever eaten in terms of appearance and taste.. I am impressed by this taste and visit Gündoğdu Kebap 3 days in a row.
My biggest recommendation to those who pass by Mersin is to stop by Gündoğdu Kebap on Silifke Caddesi.
I will highly recommend 12 months of the year, not 9 months. Mersin is at a level that makes up for everything with its livability, even if it wears out with its heat.
