Last week I did all activities, and cannot say that there is something special, but I get used to my activities here. In order to have some new impressions and new information I decided to do hitchhiking with other volunteers in Gaziantep. That was my first experience in it.
On Saturday three of us (all Ukrainians) went to Şanlıurfa, no one except me talked in Turkish, so it was really hard to communicate with drivers and always translate to others, I felt myself as at work but not at a holiday. Still those guys didn't appreciate that.
If you do hitchhiking you should be sure that you need time for waiting who could stop the car and pick you. Traveling from Gaziantep to Şanlıurfa took us 4 hours for 200 km, and we changed four cars. The most important thing is which company you have, if they are your good friends, you would probably enjoy your time.
I really enjoyed my time in the city, because I saw historical places, among which is a holy place for muslims – the legendary Pool of Sacred Fish (Balıklıgöl) where Abraham was thrown into the fire by Nimrod. The pool is in the courtyard of the mosque of Halil-ur-Rahman, built by the Ayyubids in 1211 and now surrounded by the attractive Gölbaşı-gardens designed by architect Merih Karaaslan. The courtyard is where the fishes thrive. A local legend says seeing a white fish will open the door to the heavens. Most of the places of interested are concentrated in Balıkligöl complex, there are:
- Rızvaniye Mosque – a more recent (1716) Ottoman mosque, adjoining the Balıkligöl complex;
- 'Ayn Zelîha – A source nearby the historical center, named after Zulaykha, a follower of Abraham.
- The Great Mosque of Urfa was built in 1170, on the site of a Christian church the Arabs called the "Red Church," probably incorporating some Roman masonry. Contemporary tradition at the site identifies the well of the mosque as that into which the towel or burial cloth (mendil) of Jesus was thrown (see Image of Edessa and Shroud of Turin). In the south wall of the medrese adjoining the mosque is the fountain of Firuz Bey (1781).
- Ruins of the ancient city walls.
Many tourists come to this old city, most of them are Turkish people from another city, they fed Sacred fishes and sit nearby drinking Turkish coffee or traditional tea.
Some people don't understand that it is prohibited to eat fishes. Because this is the ritual and symbolic center of Urfa—a site of pilgrimage and healing that spans many centuries and faiths. The traditional cave of Abraham’s birth forms the sacred core with the complex unfurling around it. The area consists of five mosques, two sacred pools, and the castle that sits above the complex, all connected by the mythical story of Abraham’s battle with king Nimrod.
The Legend of the Sacred Pool.
Carved into the base of the mountain is the legendary birthplace of Abraham. The legend tells that Nimrod, pagan king of Urfa, dreamt that a child born in his kingdom would bring an end to his rule. In a bloodthirsty move echoing Pharaoh and Herod, Nimrod ordered all male children born that year to be killed. Abraham’s mother hid in a cave to give birth to Abraham, who spent the first seven years of his life there.
Years later, Nimrod held a festival outside of Urfa, leaving the city unattended. With the city empty, Abraham descended on Nimrod’s idols and destroyed all but the largest one. Nimrod returned and became enraged when he saw the destroyed idols and asked Abraham who was responsible for the destruction. Abraham feigned ignorance and suggested that Nimrod pose the question to the largest statue, as it may have destroyed the others out of jealousy. Nimrod retorted that it was only a statue, and could do no such thing of its own power. Abraham replied: “You yourself have said it. If the statue is powerless over the other statues, what power can it have over you?”
Infuriated, Nimrod prepared a great fire on the ground below. He made a catapult of the castle’s twin pillars, and from there cast Abraham into the inferno. But God saved Abraham; where he landed, a spring gushed forth and the firewood was transformed into fish—the sacred carp that swim in the Pool of Abraham today. (Source: www.abrahampath.org)
The next day I decided to go from Gaziantep to one of the important and beautiful places of Gaziantep - Gaziantep Köklüce Canyon. This Canyon is situated outside of Gaziantep, 6-80 km away to the Kahramanmaraş village on the road and Ardıl village. No one knows about this amazing and magnificent place with its forest and a river, except of the local inhabitants of village and the hikers. So again it was by hitchhiking and with other volunteers and I spent my time in joy and happiness. Probably because I didn't need to reply to drivers' questions, there was a local Turkish volunteer with us, lucky me :)
When we arrived to the destination and we started our journey of climbing on the rocks, I reminded my motherland Crimea, which has lots of mountains and forests. I was very happy to see it all around and to swim in the the river. There is a cool river bottom of valley.
Also there is not much of information on Internet about this place, maybe because there is no only one many of canyon.
It is very important sometimes to leave your comfort zones and experience new things, learn them, and go for new adventures, only then people will understand how beautiful life is, and no need to complain about it.
From this time I will do hitchhiking every week ;)
Good luck.
Stay tuned.
On Saturday three of us (all Ukrainians) went to Şanlıurfa, no one except me talked in Turkish, so it was really hard to communicate with drivers and always translate to others, I felt myself as at work but not at a holiday. Still those guys didn't appreciate that.
If you do hitchhiking you should be sure that you need time for waiting who could stop the car and pick you. Traveling from Gaziantep to Şanlıurfa took us 4 hours for 200 km, and we changed four cars. The most important thing is which company you have, if they are your good friends, you would probably enjoy your time.
I really enjoyed my time in the city, because I saw historical places, among which is a holy place for muslims – the legendary Pool of Sacred Fish (Balıklıgöl) where Abraham was thrown into the fire by Nimrod. The pool is in the courtyard of the mosque of Halil-ur-Rahman, built by the Ayyubids in 1211 and now surrounded by the attractive Gölbaşı-gardens designed by architect Merih Karaaslan. The courtyard is where the fishes thrive. A local legend says seeing a white fish will open the door to the heavens. Most of the places of interested are concentrated in Balıkligöl complex, there are:
- Rızvaniye Mosque – a more recent (1716) Ottoman mosque, adjoining the Balıkligöl complex;
- 'Ayn Zelîha – A source nearby the historical center, named after Zulaykha, a follower of Abraham.
- The Great Mosque of Urfa was built in 1170, on the site of a Christian church the Arabs called the "Red Church," probably incorporating some Roman masonry. Contemporary tradition at the site identifies the well of the mosque as that into which the towel or burial cloth (mendil) of Jesus was thrown (see Image of Edessa and Shroud of Turin). In the south wall of the medrese adjoining the mosque is the fountain of Firuz Bey (1781).
- Ruins of the ancient city walls.
Many tourists come to this old city, most of them are Turkish people from another city, they fed Sacred fishes and sit nearby drinking Turkish coffee or traditional tea.
Some people don't understand that it is prohibited to eat fishes. Because this is the ritual and symbolic center of Urfa—a site of pilgrimage and healing that spans many centuries and faiths. The traditional cave of Abraham’s birth forms the sacred core with the complex unfurling around it. The area consists of five mosques, two sacred pools, and the castle that sits above the complex, all connected by the mythical story of Abraham’s battle with king Nimrod.
The Legend of the Sacred Pool.
Carved into the base of the mountain is the legendary birthplace of Abraham. The legend tells that Nimrod, pagan king of Urfa, dreamt that a child born in his kingdom would bring an end to his rule. In a bloodthirsty move echoing Pharaoh and Herod, Nimrod ordered all male children born that year to be killed. Abraham’s mother hid in a cave to give birth to Abraham, who spent the first seven years of his life there.
Years later, Nimrod held a festival outside of Urfa, leaving the city unattended. With the city empty, Abraham descended on Nimrod’s idols and destroyed all but the largest one. Nimrod returned and became enraged when he saw the destroyed idols and asked Abraham who was responsible for the destruction. Abraham feigned ignorance and suggested that Nimrod pose the question to the largest statue, as it may have destroyed the others out of jealousy. Nimrod retorted that it was only a statue, and could do no such thing of its own power. Abraham replied: “You yourself have said it. If the statue is powerless over the other statues, what power can it have over you?”
Infuriated, Nimrod prepared a great fire on the ground below. He made a catapult of the castle’s twin pillars, and from there cast Abraham into the inferno. But God saved Abraham; where he landed, a spring gushed forth and the firewood was transformed into fish—the sacred carp that swim in the Pool of Abraham today. (Source: www.abrahampath.org)
The next day I decided to go from Gaziantep to one of the important and beautiful places of Gaziantep - Gaziantep Köklüce Canyon. This Canyon is situated outside of Gaziantep, 6-80 km away to the Kahramanmaraş village on the road and Ardıl village. No one knows about this amazing and magnificent place with its forest and a river, except of the local inhabitants of village and the hikers. So again it was by hitchhiking and with other volunteers and I spent my time in joy and happiness. Probably because I didn't need to reply to drivers' questions, there was a local Turkish volunteer with us, lucky me :)
When we arrived to the destination and we started our journey of climbing on the rocks, I reminded my motherland Crimea, which has lots of mountains and forests. I was very happy to see it all around and to swim in the the river. There is a cool river bottom of valley.
Also there is not much of information on Internet about this place, maybe because there is no only one many of canyon.
It is very important sometimes to leave your comfort zones and experience new things, learn them, and go for new adventures, only then people will understand how beautiful life is, and no need to complain about it.
From this time I will do hitchhiking every week ;)
Good luck.
Stay tuned.
According to tradition, Nimrod had Abraham immolated on a funeral pyre, but God turned the fire into water and the burning coals into fish. The pool of sacred fish remains to this day.
The skyline of Şanlıurfa as viewed from the Castle which dominates the City Centre.
Sunset on the way back home to Gaziantep.
The mosque of Ardıl Köy. Gaziantep Köklüce Canyon
Taking sunbath after the refreshing water
Our big group of volunteers
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