Adana: Where My Student Wallet Didn't Cry (Much)
so i just got back from adana, turkey, and honestly? it’s not exactly paris, but my student loan didn’t spontaneously combust either. i just checked and it's this damp 11.82°C soup outside, so if you’re coming, bring a jacket that’s seen better days. humidity at 87% feels like breathing through a wet sock, but hey, it’s character, right? and if you get bored, tarsus and mersin are basically next door - perfect for escaping when your budget hostel room starts smelling like regret.
first things first: food. someone warned me that the *kebab mafia runs the streets here, but turns out they’re just passionate. i found this hole-in-the-wall near köprüçü where the owner gave me extra bread ‘cause i looked ‘hungry like a wolf’. pro-tip: avoid the tourist traps near the merkez camii. locals say the real cheap eats are in the karaköprü district, where a full plate costs less than your daily coffee habit.
speaking of locals, i overheard this gem at a bus stop:
‘if you wanna see the real adana, go where the watermelons are sold. they’re not just fruit, they’re a lifestyle.’
and? they weren’t wrong. the yeşiloba bazaar is chaos in the best way - spices, knock-off bags, and grandmas yelling at each other in turkish.
survival gear for broke students:
a reusable bottle (tap water’s fine, save 5 lira per bottle)
sneakers (cobblestones are no joke)
a portable charger (dead phone = no google translate = ordering mystery meat)
wet wipes (humidity + budget hostel = sticky situations)
accommodation? i paid 150 lira/night for a room that smelled faintly of regret and old cigarettes, but the owner let me store my bag for free. someone told me the kahveciler area has cheaper options, but i heard from a drunk guy at a bar that ‘you’ll wake up with bedbugs and a newfound appreciation for hot showers’. so, you know, your call.
oh, and the adana museum*? free entry on weekdays. saw hittite artifacts that made me feel vaguely uneducated. worth it for the bragging rights.
for more dirt on where to eat (or avoid), check out this yelp thread or the tripadvisor guide. if you’re feeling brave, the local expat forum has… passionate opinions.
would i go back? maybe. but only if someone else pays.
