The Repins on Turkey and Western Europe : Eskisehir

After 10+hours, we landed at the Kamal Artatuk International Airport in Istanbul at a quarter past six in the morning. Passing through immigration was a breeze and the luggages also arrived in a comforting time too. The only inconvenience were the absence of the trolley carts, and one can imagine the puffing and pulling of 2 moderately sized suitcases and an overweight  backpack to add; some 60 metres towards the exit doors. Emerging from the exit doors, I  immediately noticed a handsome young gentleman holding a placard with our KL tour agency's name. We were introduced and within 10 minutes, we were quickly put into a brand new Mercedes coach bound for Eskisehir. Marwan is our tour guide, a young ex-model and the driver of the coach is Nassim. The 12 seater coach is just nice for the 5 of us intending to travel some 300 + kilometres to Eskisehir, a university city of around half a million inhabitants sited midway between Istanbul and Ankara. We started off at a crawling pace due to heavy traffic coinciding with the Istanbul rush-hour but after half an hour or so, we were well away proceeding eastwards towards Eskisehir, where according to Marwan, not many tourists go. Even he as a guide, has not have the opportunity to visit Eskisehir the past 3 years or so. It will be a learning experience for him too, when he said we can all discover Eskisehir together.

View from hotel room in Eskisehir

The Marmara Sea, an inland sea connecting the Black Sea and Aegean Sea - enroute to Eskisehir

Central Eskisehir, a university town with 2 prominent universities

The Kursunlu Complex consisting of a mosque built circa 1515-1525 and madrasa along the old silk road

in the old quarter of Eskisehir

Old buildings preserved near the Kursunlu Compleks, old part of Eskisehir

The Porsuk River in Eskisehir with numerous bridges and shops on both banks of the river

The Selale Park with artificial waterfalls and 2 Cafes

View of Eskisehir from Selale park

Excavation site of an early civilisation, near the village of Giordon

Village scene, Giordon

Modern trams in Downtown Eskisehir

 For the Midas Touch, visit the tomb of King Midas, the outskirt of Eskisehir

Typical Village Mosque, Giordon

The book says Eskisehir and its immediate vicinity was in existence since 3000BC where numerous civilisations have occupied and prospered including the Hitit, Frigs, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuks and the Ottomans. This itself would interest visitors to Eskisehir. Some points of interests in and around Eskisehir include Selale Park, the Kursunlu Complex, Odunpazari, and the Atlihan. So, Eskisehir has alot to offer after all although it shall remain in the shadows of Istanbul.
The Repins thoroughly enjoyed our stay here - nice people, nice food and nice cool October weather

You may want to view this video.....
.Video of Eskisehir