I came to Ankara for a few days this week. I will stay for a total of three days and today is my third day. My first two days were really good. Sometimes short trips are very good for people. Especially when you go back to a city you haven't seen for a long time, old memories come to life. Ankara has become exactly such a place for me.
I came to Ankara by plane. The trip was short, but there is still a different feeling of air travel. I like to sit by the window and watch the cities from above. When I landed at the airport, the weather was a little overcast. There was a cloudy Ankara weather. Frankly, this weather suits Ankara too. It is a little gray, a little calm, but it has a unique atmosphere.
I had something to do on my first day. I went to a mall for this. We sometimes joke about Ankara, as "vegetation Mall". Because there are really a lot of shopping malls. But to be honest, most of them are beautiful and modern places. People prefer a lot of shopping malls to spend time. It gets even more crowded, especially if the weather is overcast or rainy.
I wandered around the place I went, looked at the stores and watched people's daily lives. I like to observe people's lives in other cities. The pace of each city is different. Ankara's pace is not as fast as Istanbul, but it is still a lively city. You feel this very clearly, especially during the after-work hours.
Then I went to a cafe that my friend recommended. It was called LUUQ Cafe. I went for the first time and I really liked it. The theme of the cafe was different. They had prepared a warmer and more aesthetic environment. When you enter, you feel comfortable. Natural tones were used in its decoration. Lamps, walls, seating areas... All of them were very harmonious.
I ordered coffee and spent some time. I really like this coffee. Sometimes a nice coffee and a calm environment take away all the fatigue. It's especially good for me to sit alone and think and watch around. I sat there for a long time. I watched people, looked at my phone a little, thought a little. It was a very peaceful moment.
I have lived in Ankara before. That's why I don't feel like a foreigner when I come here. Some streets, some roads, some buildings remind me of the old days. When a person lives in a city, an invisible bond is formed between him and there. I think there is such a bond between Ankara and me.
I also had friends who lived here. It was also very good for me to meet them. It's very nice to get back together with people you haven't seen for a long time. Some friendships remain the same even if time passes. You feel it when you chat. I'm staying with a friend right now and my days are really enjoyable. Being in a home environment is also relaxing.
Ankara is actually one of the very developed cities of Turkey. After all, the capital. Many official institutions are here. There are too many universities. The student population is also high. That's why both civil servants and students have energy in the city. This mixture adds a different atmosphere to Ankara.
Of course, when it comes to Ankara, people usually think of comparing it with Istanbul. People in Turkey are constantly comparing these two cities. Most people find Istanbul more beautiful. Yes, Istanbul's history, sea and energy are really different. But Ankara also has its own peace. Especially the people living here love Ankara. You feel it very clearly.
Ankara seems more organized to me. Some areas are very modern. They have wide roads. But traffic has increased significantly here in recent years. Especially after the big earthquake in Turkey in 2023, Ankara received a lot of immigration. People started moving to cities they saw as safer. ANKARA IS ONE OF THEM.
People here complain a little about this situation. Because the traffic was much heavier than before. I saw this too. Especially at some hours, the roads are really crowded. Sometimes it takes a long time to get somewhere. But still, it is a little lighter compared to the traffic in Istanbul. Istanbul traffic is really a very different level.
I like to walk in Ankara. The city seems more beautiful to me, especially when the weather is a little cool. While walking on the road, sometimes I just watch around. People's fuss, people sitting in cafes, quitting work... Everyone seems to have a different story.
This short Ankara trip was good for me. I rested a little and spent time with the people I love. Sometimes even changing cities changes a person's mood. It's like a little break in the same life.
Today is my third day and I already feel like time goes by so fast. Actually, I could have stayed for a few more days. But still, these three days left me good memories. It was good for me to see Ankara again, to remember old memories, to discover new places.
Maybe Ankara may not be everyone's first favorite city, but the people living here know why they love this city. And I remembered this again. Sometimes it's not just the view that makes a city beautiful, it's what they feel. Ankara has exactly such a side.