Hello everyone🙋🏻‍♀️
I did something crazy the last two days. Normally, when I’m fasting, I prefer not to leave the house unless I’m working. But this time I overstepped my bounds, and I’m glad I made that decision.
I planned a short two-day trip to Diyarbakır during Ramadan, and yes, I was fasting. Some people asked me, “Why now?” The answer was simple: Football brought me there. My hometown team, Vanspor, was coming to Diyarbakır for an away match. They were going to play against Amedspor.
A win was important for both teams; however, for Amedspor, this match was even bigger because they were fighting for the championship. They were very close to the top and needed points to keep the race going. For many, this wasn’t just a normal game; it represented hope, pride, and a strong community bond.
I care about Vanspor because it’s my hometown team. But I also want to see the cities in our region develop and become more visible in sports. When the teams from the East and Southeast get stronger, it feels like a good thing for everyone. So this trip involved mixed emotions: love for my hometown, respect for the city I was visiting, and the excitement of a match of great importance…
Diyarbakır is also one of my favorite cities. For us Kurds, most of us call it “Amed”; this name feels very close to the heart. So in my mind, this trip wasn’t just about football; it was about stepping into a city I love, even if only for a short time.
I flew from Istanbul’s largest airport during the daytime. The flight lasted about an hour and forty-five minutes. Since I was fasting, I didn’t eat or drink anything on the plane. I just sat, looked out the window, and experienced that calm feeling of travel.
Airports always make me think about time. You wait, you walk, you sit down again, and then suddenly you’re somewhere else entirely.
When I arrived in Diyarbakır, the air was fresh and very beautiful. People say Diyarbakır is very hot in the summer, and I believe it. The weather in summer can be very harsh, heavy, and sometimes difficult to cope with. But this season was the complete opposite. The weather was like spring; a gentle sun, a light cool breeze, and a wide, clear sky… Even though I was fasting, I wasn’t very thirsty. I felt tired sometimes, but it was a “good” tiredness.
I booked a small boutique hotel for one night. It was a charming, simple, and warm place. I just needed a place to rest, drop off my bag, and get ready.
After checking in, I left my belongings in the room and looked at the clock. Iftar was approaching, and the match was going to start at 8 PM. I made a plan in my head: I would quickly eat my meal, enjoy it, and then meet my cousin and go to the stadium.
Before leaving the hotel, I changed and got ready. I wanted to feel comfortable because I knew I would be walking a lot and dealing with traffic later in the day. Then I went out to find a nice place to eat.
I Walked Along the City Walls and Felt the City
Before breaking my fast, I spent some time in the city and visited the famous Diyarbakır City Walls. These walls are not just made of stone; they feel like a long memory. They stand tall and silent, as if they have witnessed different times, different people, and stories.
Walking beside them, you feel small, but in a good way. The walls remind you that cities live longer than we do and carry layers upon layers of life within them. I walked slowly and looked at the details. The dark stones have a powerful appearance; this perfectly suits the character of the city.
Diyarbakır has a serious beauty. It doesn’t try to look “cute”; it feels real and profound. Even though I was fasting, I enjoyed the walk. Sometimes people think that fasting makes everything difficult. Yes, it can be difficult. But sometimes it makes you more “in the moment.” You notice the air, the light, your steps, and your thoughts more. You don’t rush as much.
I also realized how vibrant the city is. People were bustling around, preparing for iftar, shopping, meeting with their families, sitting in cafes, and getting ready for the evening. Ramadan changes the rhythm of a city. The days are calmer, but the evenings are full of energy.
I also visited the Diyarbakır Museum. I saw wonderful things there; I was both surprised and happy. But I’ll save that for another post because it deserves its own story. This is the first part; about arrival, walking, flavors, and feeling the beginning of Amed.
And the time came. I looked at the clock again. Iftar was near.
I chose a place where I could try one of Diyarbakır’s most famous dishes: liver. I really wanted to break my fast with liver because people were always talking about it, and I wanted to experience this real thing in its real city.
When the food arrived, it looked perfect. Just the smell alone was enough to make me smile. I broke my fast with liver, and the taste of the liver was incredible. It was very delicious, very rich, and very well cooked. The side dishes were also wonderful. There were salads and small plates, everything was fresh.
During Ramadan, that first bite after a full day of fasting feels special. It’s not just about hunger; it’s about gratitude, relief, peace. But I also had to watch the time. I couldn’t sit for too long because the match was approaching.
After the meal, I had a cup of tea. That tea was like a small break, a deep breath. Then I got up and prepared to leave.
Enjoying a Match at the Stadium with My Cousin
After tea, I got into a taxi. My cousin lives in Diyarbakır, and we had planned to go to the match together. Since my cousin is young, I didn’t want her to come alone. I thought it would be better and safer to go and pick her up.
The taxi ride was normal at first, but everything changed as we approached the stadium area. The traffic was unbelievable. I’m from Istanbul, I know the traffic. But the situation at that moment was on a whole different level.
As we got closer, the car started crawling. We were moving step by step, almost at walking speed. Still, I didn’t get angry. It was crowded because people cared. Everyone was going to the match. You could feel the excitement in the streets. You could see the fan groups, the flags, the scarves, and the emotional faces. Even from inside the taxi, you could feel the importance of the night.
When I picked up my cousin, we were both very excited. We talked, laughed, and tried to be patient in the traffic. The city was noisy and lively. The sky was darkening, and the energy of the evening was rising.
That stadium adventure is a story in itself, and I’ll tell it in my next post. There were powerful emotions, unforgettable moments, and a match that meant a lot to many people. But this post is the opening chapter: How I got there, what I tasted, and what I felt in the first few hours…
To summarize; Amed welcomed me with fresh spring air, strong city walls, and one of the best iftar meals I’ve ever had. I was fasting, but I didn’t feel weak. I felt full of life. Even after a long day and a busy schedule, I felt that this trip was worth it.
Diyarbakır is a city with history, flavor, and soul. When you visit during Ramadan, you feel a special softness amidst all that toughness and strength.
Next time I’ll share the match day story. But for now, these are my first memories from my two-day trip to Amed: The road, the walls, the liver, the tea, and that crowded journey to the stadium… It was as if the whole city was moving with us.