Turkish question

E. Buygum

E. Buygum

Registered user
Joined
Jun 22, 2008
Messages
673
Reaction score
0
Location
N Shropshire
Hi folks
This/ next year I'm planning a trip to a small place called Kozluoren near Bursa where I stayed for a couple of weeks many, many years ago. It's here:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&s...3264,29.347572&spn=0.130757,0.308647&t=h&z=12

There is also a http://www.kozluoren.com/ but I'm not sure this relates to "my" Kozluoren (there are at least 2 others in Turkey e.g. one near Soma). Can anyone work out whether the above link and the website relate to the same place? My Turkish is, err, a little rusty....

Teşekkür ederim
 
The website is German, although about Kozluoren, which of the three is not obvious to me and I can't see any references on the website, which is odd.

What is taking you back there, it's hardly on the tourist route?
 
ExpatinIstanbul said:
The website is German, although about Kozluoren, which of the three is not obvious to me and I can't see any references on the website, which is odd.

What is taking you back there, it's hardly on the tourist route?
Click to expand...
Expat. You're right- it Certainly wasn't on the tourist route in 1977 :)

I got chatting to some people in the "Pudding Shop" in Istanbul (it's not still there, is it?) and ended up as a volunteer on a project to lay a water supply to the village. Spent 2 or 3 weeks there swinging a pick axe and the location and the people were just wonderful. (Some of the Swedish women volunteers weren't too shabby, either). A couple of us were planning a trip to Turkey via Romania and the thought came to me that it would be nice to revisit Kozluoren. I have some quite nice photographs from the time- well 35mm slides- (where I have copious amounts of hair...those were the days). I suspect some of the blokes who spent their days drinking tea in the shade still haven't moved.
 
Judging by the miner figure in the logo of that german site; i would guess that kozluoren is near Soma. Soma is a major coal-mining area, definitely not the kozluoren near Bursa.
 
celcius said:
Judging by the miner figure in the logo of that german site; i would guess that kozluoren is near Soma. Soma is a major coal-mining area, definitely not the kozluoren near Bursa.
Click to expand...
Well spotted :thumb Yes, definitely no mining in "my" Kozluoren. Lots of beans but definitely no mining. Also, the website shows a lot bigger place than I recall...although a lot can change in 30+ years. There were, however, a lot of returning Gastarbeiter so the German thing wasn't too big a surprise but I assume the same would apply to many rural areas.
 
have you tried google earth, to see if anything jogs your memory?
 
Approximately 2.5m Turks in Germany, wherever you go in Turkey; you will find someone who has a relative there :)
30 years eh? You won't recognize the place when you see it again.
Drop a note here when you hit the road; will come out to meet and grab a pint or two when/if you pass through istanbul.

Here is the official website of the kozluoren you are looking for. Only in Turkish i'm afraid but you can still have a look around the pictures and videos.
http://www.kozluoren.org/
 
Last edited:
celcius said:
Approximately 2.5m Turks in Germany, wherever you go in Turkey; you will find someone who has a relative there :)
30 years eh? You won't recognize the place when you see it again.
Drop a note here when you hit the road; will come out to meet and grab a pint or two when/if you pass through istanbul.

Here is the official website of the kozluoren you are looking for. Only in Turkish i'm afraid but you can still have a look around the pictures and videos.
http://www.kozluoren.org/
Click to expand...
Celcius, how did you find that? I managed to miss it after ages on Google. Thank you. Yes...that's the place...a fruit & veg production area. When I was there, it was peach season. I still remember seftali and fasulye. In fact the site's reference to the farmers' Co-operative rings a bell unless my mind is playing tricks. The beers are on me :beerjug: but it's just an idea at the moment...I'm working out how much time and money I need and whether it fits into this year. I wonder if the statue of Ataturk is still standing int the school yard...
 
You are bang on about the cooperative, a major supplier of fruits apparently.
Rest assured about the statue, it WILL be there. Every school and government building in Turkey has one, thats the law. :)
Oil wrestling seems to be a favourite past-time in the area. :blast
Another interesting local custom is the 'day of the women'; apparently on a specific day each year all the men leave the village for 24 hours and let the women take over everything, from manning the fields to running the local village council. Strange indeed!
 
ExpatinIstanbul said:
Having read the thread carefully, I can only find one point of interest.



See you when you get here.
Click to expand...

Well it's all a bit up in the air but my beloved company is downsizing and I have put my hand up for voluntary release...if the plan comes together, I'll have the time to get there and a temporary illusion of wealth so make sure you take full advantage! It's looking 50-50 at the moment.
 
Sorry to reply to my own question but the plan is looking good so can I ask a couple of follow on questions?
Just how bad is the traffic through/ around Istanbul? I'm not a nervous rider but a neighbour who visits regularly seems intent on depressing me.
As I'll be going to Bursa it looks like I could loop round without passing through Istanbul again on my return. Does anyone have any experience of ferries e.g. Bandirma-Tekirdag?
Much appreciated.
Cheers, Dave
 
Depends on if you're thinking of stopping in Istanbul. If not, you'll just ride straight through on the motorway, which can be a little exciting but is generally fine. If you're thinking of riding around Ist it'll be fun.....in a way. PM me a reminder and I'll give you a run down of what's what in comparison to the UK.

Don't jump from Bandirma to Tekirdag. Ride right round to Cannakale and see the sights around Galipoli....well worth the extra time. You can also stop off for lunch around Assos if you go that way, amazing place.
 
Thanks, Expat...that looks like an excellent suggestion. My two week and a bit trip looks like being three weeks. I wouldn't want to miss Istanbul completely on the trip but not having to double back seems a good idea.
 
Visa at the border!

I hope to enter Turkey via Syria and heading for Antioch. Are visas available at all border crossings and, is there such a thing as a transit visa as I'm heading for Adana, Kula, Izmir and Cesme for the ferry to Italy in around 3-4 days?
 
You should be able to get visas for Turkey at any border crossing, they cost 10 pounds (sterling) and will last for three months. You'll have to buy insurance at the border too, it's cheap though at 25TL (another ten pounds). Be aware though that the speed limit for bikes in Turkey is 85KM/H and if you get caught but not stopped they'll hit you with a fine as you leave the country. You can spot radar traps by looking for small temporary triangular warning signs with a radar symbol. They're hard to spot sometimes though so be wary.
 
It can be done in one very long hard day, but I'd allow 2 days if you don't want to stop and see stuff but want to push it along. If at all possible I'd give it 4 days, and plan to stop to gawk at the amazing sights along the way.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

GSite
Valeo D6RA starter motor question
Replies
2
Views
206
GSite
GSite
Slime Bomb
Tubliss question
Replies
4
Views
185
PitaNaanRoti
mpgscott
Another TPMS problem/question
2
Replies
23
Views
1,521
adventuredon
adventuredon
steele01
1150GSA ECU question (hilltop) returning to stock exhaust
Replies
12
Views
1,504
steele01
steele01
the old tyre question!
2
Replies
22
Views
3,792
HGS
HGS


Back
Top Bottom