A postcard and a tea

City of Safranbolu

14 May 2015 | From Selin of Turkey

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

Safranbolu is a town and district of Karabük Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey. The Old Town preserves many old buildings, with 1008 registered historical artifacts. These are: 1 private museum, 25 mosques, 5 tombs, 8 historical fountains, 5 Turkish baths, 3 caravanserais, 1 historical clock tower, 1 sundial and hundreds of houses and mansions. Also there are mounds of ancient settlements, rock tombs and historical bridges. The Old Town is situated in a deep ravine in a fairly dry area in the rain shadow of the mountains. The New Town can be found on the plateau about two kilometers west of the Old Town.

Safranbolu was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1994 due to its well-preserved Ottoman era houses and architecture. The City of Safranbolu is a typical Ottoman city, with typical buildings and streets, and played a key role in the caravan trade over many centuries. The settlement developed as a trading centre after the Turkish conquest in the 11th century, and by the 13th century, it had become an important caravan station. Its layout demonstrates the organic growth of the town in response to economic expansion, and its buildings are representative of its evolving socio-economic structure up to the disappearance of the traditional caravan routes and beyond.

The Blue Mosque

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque

4 Jul, 2014 | From Akubi of Hong Kong

POSTCROSSING FRIEND | POSTCARD SENT FROM HONG KONG

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Turkish: Sultan Ahmet Camii) is a historic mosque in Istanbul. The mosque is popularly known as the Blue Mosque for the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior.

It was built from 1609 to 1616, during the rule of Ahmed I. Its Külliye contains a tomb of the founder, a madrasah and a hospice. The Sultan Ahmed Mosque is still popularly used as a mosque. This imperial mosque is an example of classical Turkish architecture, and it is the only mosque that was originally built with six minarets. 

It is surrounded by other important edifices of Istanbul, built at earlier ages. Istanbul is viewed best from the sea and the mosque is part of this magnificent scenery.

The Egyptian Obelisk

Obelisk of Theodosius

4 Jul, 2014 | From Akubi of Hong Kong

POSTCROSSING FRIEND | POSTCARD SENT FROM HONG KONG

The Obelisk of Theodosius (Turkish: Dikilitaş) is the Ancient Egyptian obelisk of Pharaoh Tutmoses III re-erected in the Hippodrome of Constantinople (known today as At Meydanı or Sultanahmet Meydanı, in the modern city of Istanbul, Turkey) by the Roman emperor Theodosius I in the 4th century AD.

The Column is 19.59 meters high, made of pink granite and illustrates the battle victories of the Pharaoh on its four sides. The western face of the pedestal contains are presentation of Theodosius I seated on his throne, his wife and children at his side, receiving ambassadors.

Surprises inside an envelope

A Magnet and Stamp from Turkey

13 Mar, 2013 | From Ceyda of Turkey

POSTCROSSING SWAP

Ceyda also sent me this magnet and cool stamp. The magnet shows the bridge which links the Asian and European sides of Istanbul, Turkey. The stamp features one traditional Turkish dish.

Map of Turkey

Map of Turkey

13 Mar, 2013 | From Ceyda of Turkey

POSTCROSSING SWAP

Another postcard from Ceyda as part of a special swap, along with the flag card. This postcard shows the map of Turkey surrounded by illustrations depicting their rich culture. According to Ceyda, Turkey is between Asia and Europe. She lives in Istanbul, and Istanbul has an Asian isde and a European side. They can actually just cross a bridge to go to the Asian or European side. 

Turkey's location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia makes it a country of significant geostrategic importance.

Flag of Turkey

Türk Bayrağı | Turkish Flag

13 Mar, 2013 | From Ceyda of Turkey

POSTCROSSING SWAP

Ceyda asked for a postcard swap a month ago, and this is one of the postcards she sent me. The flag of Turkey (Turkish: Türk bayrağı, meaning: Turkish flag) is a red flag including the full moon with a star moving centrally in front of the sun with reference to the meeting of the Turkic solar deity Gün Ana (Mother Sun) and the moon god Ay Ata (Father Moon) brought by the space god Erkliğ.