Gotta say, this is my first time reviewing an entire city LOL, but I get it. Sirince really is a…read morecombined experience, so it makes sense to think of it in one review. This city (really whole part of Turkey) used to be inhabited by Greeks who later fled during the exchange, and the story goes that the Greeks named this place Çirkince, meaning "ugly," so that no one else would come here (the name was later changed to its current spelling which means "lovely"). The Greeks knew what they were doing!!! Out of my several-week trip in Turkey, this was by far the most picturesque little village I came across. Narrow, cobbled alleys, small cafes, cats running around everywhere, serene farms on the outskirts of town, and adorable B&B's - seems straight out of a movie. Getting there: You can take buses from pretty much anywhere for really cheap. I drove my own car (which I very much recommend), and parking is super easy. No autos are allowed in the city, so you can just find a car park on the outskirts and pay a very small fee to park there. A tip though: if you arrive early, you can just park without a fee (that's not official, mind you). Then after parking (or arriving on bus), make your way through the cute alleys. What to do: Sirince is known for their wines, and on every block there are probably 5 different wine stores, each trying to get you to buy their product. Sample wines and don't feel obligated to buy just because you tried them!! The value for what you pay varies widely, so try out different wines at different locations before making a decision. They are also known for their unique way of making Turkish coffee wherein they heat the Briki in/on a hot sand bed - I am sure you've seen the Instagram videos. So grab some coffee, find a cute cafe to enjoy a beer and lunch, and just walk around this adorable town. Things I wasn't huge on: So this will only apply to Greeks/Orthodox, but it is pretty sad seeing the remains of what used to be a Greek village. That's not to say the village is dilapidated, but rather that there are vestiges of Greek-ness all over that are ignored and falling apart - shadows of a former time. The churches are all falling apart and are now a place where sorority girls take drunk selfies without understanding where they really are, icons are peeling off the walls, and you can almost hear the lost voices singing praises in these hallowed buildings. It was sad enough to leave me melancholy, despite the bustling and happy town I was in. So 5 stars for everything else because I know my experience will only apply to a very small population of tourists!

I loved this place! The setting is beautiful -up a mountain , surrounded by green . Ate outside…read moreand was confronted by delightful , friendly cats. Down the road domestic geese and peacocks.Was served a good chick pea vegetable soup,cigarres, salad and kofta. Desert was rice pudding . Restaurant serves beer and wine. Service was efficient. It was a a "set" menu and I can't comment on price. I wasn't paying.This restaurant is close to Ephesus (FYI).

Izmir... I wish I only had more time to get to know you a little bit better. Beautiful coastal city…read morelocated on the Aegean with lots of nearby beaches and lots of hotel options. There are lots of public transportation options (train and the bus), which will connect you to all of the city's destinations and you can also take a taxi. Taxis are very reasonably priced and safe.

Everyone stops to take a picture at this monument bust next to the Çesme Kale…read more Be sure to stop by and take a picture also!

If you are in Yalikavak don't forget to stop by this place and eat their Borek. Every time we visit…read moreYalikavak we buy at least 2 pans of the borek and 'Boşnak Mantisi'. We finish both in one sitting with our extended family. Best ever!

Alsancak denince insanların aklına genelde kalabalık, ortam ve alışveriş kelimeleri gelir. Sevgi…read moreYolunu bilmeyen birine anlatmaya kalksanız muhtemelen inanmaz. Ama inanın :) Sevgi Yolu, tamamen araçlara ve gürültüye uzak, çok kalabalık olmayan olsa da yormayan bir "yol". Bu yolda neler mi bulabileceksiniz? Yolun her iki tarafında benzer şeyler var aslında. İlk başta dövme ve piercing yaptırabilecrğiniz 3-4 yer var. Geçen gün geçici dövme yaptırdım, küçük birşeydi 10tl dedi ama ufak bir pazarlıkla 5tl'ye yaptı. Malzemeleri kaliteli. Hemen yanında çok ufak bir yer var, ayna kestirebiliyorsunuz. Harf ve simge şeklinde nasıl dilerseniz ayna kesiyorlar. Mutlaka görmeniz lazım :) Hemen ilerde küçük standlarda takıcılar var. Standlarında gümüş takılar, yerin önünde ise iplik el yapımı bileklikler var. Yolun yarısına geldiğinizde desenleri el yapımı telefon kapları bulabilirsiniz ancak heryerde olduğu gibi iPhone ağırlıklı kaplar var. Yolun diğer yarısına ise öğrenciler mutlaka bir kez gitmiştir. Kitapçılar :) Hertürlü roman,deneme, biyografi vs tür kitapları bulabilirsiniz. Kocaman standlarda test kitapları var. 3 tanesi 5tl gibi kampanyaları oluyor, bende hep buralardan alırdım :) Küçük el kitapları, formül kitapları, deneme sınavlarına kadar oldukça uygun fiyata birsürü kaynak bulabilirsiniz. Kredi kartı geçiyor olması büyük avantaj, en sevdiğim yönü ise bazı dükkanlar gibi "kredi kartına indirim yapamıyoruz" politikaları olmaması. Ayrıca Sevgi Yolu, çeşitli etkinliklere de ev sahipliği yapıyor. Örneğin 2 sene önce AIESEC ülkeler panayırına ev sahipliği etmişti. Unutmadan söyleyeyim, girişte yerde yıldızlar içinde Türkiyemizin unutulmaz değerli sanatçılarının isimleri var.. Böylesine kültür ve sanat kokan bu sakin yere uğramanızı tavsiye ederim.