Balkanatolia Blog

The best little hotels from Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria and Albania

Breakfast in Tatvan

Gönderen Balkanatolia Tuesday, September 22, 2009 yorum (0)


Let’s say you have arrived in Tatvan in the morning when you visit around Lake Van. You will need to have a good breakfast. What to do then? Here is what I offer. Buy some cheese and olive in a localmarket. Don’t forget to tastebefore buying. If you ask for it, the owner of market will gladly offer you a piece of cheese and olive. If you buy them in a package (prepared in factory), then there is no chance for tasting. After fixing this issue, you can buy honey, butter, jam from a pastry shop (pastane) in town. This won’t cost much at all. In the pastry shops in Tatvan, you can find ready-to-eat boiled eggs. If you like, you can buy one or two eggs depending on how much hungry you are! them


Finally, find a ‘fırın’ to buy bread. Please ask for the freshest ones. I would recommend one bread and two çörek. Don’t forget to buy a newspaper in the meantime! You will need it after!


Your next stop is the coast of Lake Van in Tatvan. You will see very nice cafés there. You can sit out under the trees and start to prepare your breakfast table. That is the time you need newspaper. Well, the newspaper idea may not be hygienic or so on but it is once in a lifetime. So feel free as much as you can! (If you have better options, great!) Lay your newspaper on table and put your stuff on it. If you want to experience a real Turkish breakfast, you must drink tea for sure. It would be pity otherwise. You can order tea by glass or semaver (from which you can serve your own teas and drink as much as 15 glasses, ideal for families, groups or tea-addicted people!).


Afiyet olsun!! Bon appetite!

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Having a Walk in Tatvan

Gönderen Balkanatolia Monday, September 21, 2009 yorum (0)




Tatvan is a town of Bitlis but it is bigger than Bitlis. When I saw this town for the first time, I have been deeply impressed. It is one of the cutest towns I have ever seen. It is right next to Lake Van and Mountain Nemrut.  If you are having a round trip around Lake Van, Tatvan is one of the stop points. If you don’t have much time, I suggest you to walk through the lake in Tatvan. The view is wonderful and you will feel relaxed as people don’t bother you with their sights and eyes. Friendly people will let you enjoy the view much more. Sometimes walking in such places is a unique escape for those who need a rest for their heads.

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Visiting the biggest mosque in Eastern Turkey

Gönderen Balkanatolia Thursday, September 10, 2009 yorum (0)


Whether you are muslim or not, this is a definite place to see or pray. It is the biggest mosque in Eastern Turkey and definitely worth of a visit. It is called Ibadullah Camii and I am really impressed by it. The mosques in eastern Turkey resemble those from the times of Ottoman. For example, the columns of Ibadullah reminded of Blue Mosque’s in Istanbul. The ornamentations and workmanship of the mosque are totally amazing. It is a big complex with ablution parts, outside points and places for different kind of functions. As it is in downtown of Tatvan, you can reach it easily. There is a website prepared for the mosque; you can have a look at it here. (The site is in Turkish)

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Eating in Hizan

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This tip is for exclusive escapers, for those who follow their nose when they travel to somewhere. If you somehow manage to find yourself in Hizan and feel hungry, there is an address I can recommend. Ok, it is not the best option but it was the best we could find in town. Hizan is a very small town of Bitlis and there is not much to do there but it has a wonderful landscape (especially Tatvan-Hizan road). In the center you can eat at Yayla Kebap Salonu . The prices are normal but my best suggestion would be eating as light as possible. Because, no matter how well they cook, still there may be problems with food. Their salad has much onion inside. If you don’t like it, you can explain your preferences to them. Actually, the best thing about this place is their staff. They have been extremely to me and my friends. So, I guess this is why I recommend this place. But don’t forget, eat as light as possible! 

Yayla Kebap Salonu
Tel: 0434 611 14 29
Cumhuriyet Square Hizan/Bitlis

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Dorian Appartments - Symi / Dodecanese

Gönderen Balkanatolia Wednesday, September 9, 2009 yorum (0)

Symi is without doubt the most aristocratic island of the Dodecanese, "Twelve Island Group". Just a one-hour ferry trip from cosmopolitan Rhodes with its big all-inclusive hotels and mass-tourism, this small rocky island attracts visitors with its incredibly unspoilt architecture. Arriving at Symi you will be impressed by the view of the amphitheatrically built harbour town which is absolutely genuine island style, without any modern concrete buildings. Locals are proud of their island and take much care in conserving and restoring the old coulourful mansions. Some of them are nice guesthouses or small hotels.

We chose Dorian Appartments for you mostly because of their marvellous position over the picturesque harbour with inforgettable sunsets. The appartments are self-catering, but for those who prefer to get a nice breakfast or to enjoy a tasty seafood dinner, there are plenty of coffee-houses, tavernas and restaurants just a short walk away.

Sitting on a blue chair, having an ouzo with some meze and watching the wooden boats of the traditional sponge-divers will make you forget the anxious life of global society.

Don't forget to make a day-trip to wonderful Turkish Datça Peninsula which is just opposite of Symi. Balkanatolia will be happy to give you useful informations about visiting there.

Click here to view the location of this hotel from space.

Click HERE to make a reservation request or see more photos from this hotel.

Click here for our Symi-pictures collection

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Tatvan - Hizan (Escape Drive)

Gönderen Balkanatolia Monday, September 7, 2009 yorum (0)



I know you are looking for a special tip that you have never read somewhere else. Here I am telling it right now. If you have time in Tatvan, I suggest you to take the road to Hizan town (very small town of Bitlis). It is about fifty kilometres from Tatvan and the road is scenic. A small stream is following the road after some time and you even come across surprising experiences like waterfalls (look at the picture) and amazingly cold water resources to drink. If you have a local, it would be nice but it is not a must. The nature, landscape and the countryside are simply eye-catching in this yet-undiscovered region of Turkey. I have been there in late July and it was wonderful at that time there. I guess it is spectacular starting from June till the end of September. Be aware of winds as you will be in one of the highest parts of Turkey! (Feel free to leave a comment for hotel options around the region.)

 
This photo will give the idea how beautiful roadsides are when you are driving...

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Journey to Van

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If you plan to go to Van from any part of country (Turkey), I can suggest you two main popular bus companies. One of them is Best Van Tur and the second one is Van Gölü Seyahat. As far as i observed, these two companies are the most popular ones. If you travel to Van from Tatvan and want to reach Van via Gevaş (Akdamar), you have to take Best Van or Van Gölü. But if you want to see interesting places such as Ahlat and Erciş, you can take Erciş İtimat for that. Because it makes a round trip around the lake which might be interesting for you. (If you need accommodation around the region, feel free to leave a message)

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