When I was in Istanbul, the Blue Mosque was closed for renovation. I was very disapppointed, because I had seen many pictures online, and it looked magical! People were talking about the “owl eyes” shape of its ceiling. But in Ankara, I visited the Kocatepe Mosque, and it was as beautiful as I had imagined the Blue Mosque to be.
Ankara
Ankara is a big city and reminded me a bit of New York. It’s very active, it’s more a city to live in than a city to visit as a tourist. I slowed down my pace and felt less like a tourist. The transports are easy to understand, and I was staying at a friend’s and spent some time with her in local places. It was very pleasant, and I think that maybe more tourists should visit Ankara, to have a feel of what is Turkey today. A lot of people asked me “Why would you go to Ankara?!”, but I actually had a great time there.
The Kocatepe Mosque
There are nonetheless a few tourist attractions to see in Ankara, and the Kocatepe Mosque is one of them. I also happened to visit it when nearly nobody was inside, I had the place to myself and I could fully experience its beauty and its details. To me, mosques are wonders of complexity and colours, and this one was no exception. The golden ball of light descending from the ceiling reminded me of the sun, also because it was surrounded by small “planet-like” balls.
To see more photos of Turkey, you can visit the gallery Turkey.
