bursa was a surprise and i didn't expect it
so bursaa... it's this city in northwestern turkey, tucked under this huge mountain called uludağ. i didn't know much about it before i went, but turns out it was the first capital of the ottoman empire. yeah, before istanbul. that's kind of a big deal.
i just checked and it's 9.31°C there right now, feels like 8.58°C. hope you like that kind of thing.
anyway, the geography is wild. you've got these broad fertile plains, lakes, rivers, and then this massive mountain looming over everything. uludağ is 2,543 meters high, the tallest in western anatolia. and it's a national park, so winter sports are a big thing there. i heard someone say the ski resorts are legit.
the climate is this weird mix of mediterranean and continental. summers are hot and dry, winters are cold and snowy. i mean, it rains a lot in winter, sometimes up to 12 days a month. someone told me that if you're not into cold and wet, maybe don't go in january or february. but summer's nice, averaging around 21°C, sometimes hitting 34°C in august.
bursa's got this nickname, "water city," because of all the springs and lakes. there's iznik and ulubat lakes, and rivers like nilüfer and göksu. the place is green, like really green. and the plains are super fertile, so they grow all sorts of stuff: apricots, peaches, grapes, grains. silk used to be a big deal here too.
if you get bored, yalova, kocaeli, sakarya, bilecik, kütahya, and balıkesir are just a short drive away. istanbul's across the sea of marmara if you want a bigger city vibe.
the population's around 3 million, so it's not tiny. it's the fourth-largest province in turkey. the culture's a mix of history and nature. you've got ottoman-era sites, thermal baths (they're pioneers in health tourism), and then the whole mountain thing.
uludağ national park is the main tourist draw. winter sports, hiking, just being up high and looking at the view. thermal facilities are everywhere too, natural hot springs. someone said they're great for relaxing, but i didn't try them myself.
one thing to know: the weather can be all over the place. summers are dry and sunny, perfect for sightseeing. winters are cold, sometimes snowy, sometimes rainy. and the humidity's pretty high, like 73% on average. if you're going in winter, pack warm and waterproof.
the city's got this vibe of being both historical and modern. you see old ottoman buildings next to newer stuff. it's not as chaotic as istanbul, but it's got its own rhythm. the people seem chill, tied to the land and the seasons.
i didn't find much on famous locals, but the city itself is the star. it's got this unique position, right at the edge of the marmara region, with a climate that's neither fully mediterranean nor fully continental. it's its own thing.
so yeah, bursaa. it's green, it's historic, it's got a big mountain, and the food's probably fresh because of all the local produce. if you like history, nature, and don't mind a bit of weather drama, it's worth a visit.
You might also be interested in:
- https://topiclo.com/post/lima-where-fog-history-and-ceviche-collide
- https://topiclo.com/post/bogor-rain-ghosts-and-seriously-overpriced-coffee
- https://topiclo.com/post/luanda-hot-dusty-and-kinda-falling-apart
- https://topiclo.com/post/gemlik-where-industrial-meets-olive-groves-and-thats-about-it
- https://topiclo.com