Erzurum

Çifte Minareli Medrese

Before we got to Erzurum we had known about it one thing: that it is the coldest place in Turkey. We used to hear the legends about this place like the fact that people don't go outside for few days when its over -40 degrees! OMG! Can you even imagine -40 degrees in Turkey? We couldn't. Thanks god we visited this place during spring so the temperature over there was bearable already :-) Although Jagoda kept mourning it was cold.... women.

The capital of Turkish cold – that’s how we call it. And apparently it’s all caused by the altitude of the city (2000 m above sea level).

We wanted Erzurum to be a very short stop on our way and it would be like that if we didn’t meet our great host – Emre, a Flying Engineering student, who encouraged us to stay longer and offered us showing around the city.

In the morning he prepared for us amazing breakfast. That's how Jagoda found out about the cheese which looks like pismaniye. 

Tower clock in Erzurum Castle

During the day we were sightseeing with our host. Surprisingly apart from the low temperature there was actually much to see in Erzurum and most of the places are situated in the same area which makes sightseeing really easy.

From my point of view – the first thing which you can notice on the streets is big amount of women with their hair covered. That shows how conservative the place is which is important especially for girls and suggests not wearing extravagant clothes (surely covering you head is not necessary, but mini skirts and uncovered cleavage can be seen not in wanted by you way).

Of course we also tried the special of Erzurum cuisine: Cağ Kebab.
We spend the evening on learning Turkish with Emre as well as preparing ourselves to the continuation of our trip.
Tomorrow - Diyarbakir!

View from the tower which white peaks of the mountains

Eating Erzurum kebab with our host - Emre