[Mella]

KARSIYAKA

Karsiyaka, Izmir is one of my most favorite places ever, it's very lively and there's never a dull moment here.

Karsiyaka literally means "On the other side" and it is, from Alsancak and Konak.

A road connects the parts of Izmir together, but the best way to travel around Izmir is by ferry. Each district of Izmir that lies on the bay has their own ferry terminal. For just 1,25 YTL you can travel across the beautiful bay to another part of Izmir. It's brilliant, Okay so perhaps it's not quite as good as being on the Bosphorous in Istanbul, but you still get the cool breeze, the seagulls flying overhead, and that incredible smell the sea has...

Opposite the Karsiyaka ferry terminal you can find the busy centre with many shops, cafes and restaurants. Whether you go early in the morning, or late at night, is is always bustling with people.

On the main street there are lots of the usual Turkish brand clothes shops, books stores, computer shops and fast food places such as McDonalds. Everywhere you look are little streets running off the main shopping area littered with one of a kind nik nac shops, special eatery's and portable Kebab and kokorech stalls, filling the area with delicious smells.

Men go about their daily business, walking around selling freshly made simit and candyfloss, whilst others go around collecting old furniture left outside by residents.

In Karşıyaka, there is a tradition. When they go to the other parts of Izmir, they say "we are going to Izmir". The people of Karsiyaka believe they are different because they are from Karsiyaka. They describe themselves as "35.5" while the rest of Izmir uses "35" as the plate number of Izmir.
In fact, there isn't a "35.5" code, this is just symbolic because in their view, Karşıyaka is a town in its own right with an individual cultulre and history so they want to claim an identity distinct from the rest of the city.

All along the Karsiyaka seafront runs a long park with grass, children's play areas, basketball courts, tennis courts, outdoor gyms for passers by (very popular in Izmir - see pic below) and a path next to the sea, dotted with benches where you can sit and watch the fishermen and the other side of the beautiful Izmir bay.

When you continue along the seafront to the left of the ferry terminal you will pass the statue of dolphins (a Monument that symbolizes friendship and brotherhood) you are in the middle of Karsiyaka and Bostanli. Opposite of the Bostanli ferry terminal (a ferry that also transports cars over the bay) the area of Bostanli starts. The liveliness stems from the many shops and restaurants and some nice cafes. There is a Bostanli market held every Wednesday, worth a visit if you're in the area. With colorful stalls selling everything from fruit to leather goods, and noisy negotiating over prices going on everywhere.

Continuing on down the seafront you will notice a very large building, this is Sports International - a huge sports center with a swimming pool, gym, sauna's, aerobics, jacuzzi's, squash and all other kinds of sports facilities. The area furthest to the left, Mavisehir, is the newest area and very popular among richer Turkish families. This area houses the big EGE Park shopping center, filled with 115 luxury shops, a cinema and bowling complex.

Although the city is crowded, there are many green grassy parks hidden around it. Funnily enough, there's one we take Arnie to occasionally and as we were wandering round the area we discovered the name of the park is Zübeyde Hanım, and the grave of Attaturk's mother was there right infront of us. Like I said, never a dull moment living here.....

[Mike Christmas]

Carmella, I like the bar near the main ferry terminal where, when you buy a beer, they give you peanuts in their shells as a meze and you just throw the shells all over the floor; it astounds our UK visitors first time they come. It's their gimmick and a good one too.

[Mella]