As
we were wandering through the cobblestone streets in Safranbolu, threatening rain clouds
covered the sky. Rain seemed imminent.
Since
it was late afternoon on Saturday, we decided it was time to find a good place
for a drink. However, we were surprised to learn that few places, mainly
hotels, serve alcohol in this quaint town.
 |
| The streets of Safranbolu, Turkey. |
As
luck would have it, we just stumbled into the Havuzlu Asmazlar Konağı Hotel, located about 1.5 kilometers from the city center.
This hotel was actually on my itinerary thanks to Turkish travel writer Pat
Yale's website, Turkey
from the Inside.
This 300-year-old restored mansion is well-worth
a detour just to glimpse the Ottoman pool inside that gives the hotel its name.
Apparently, some of Safranbolu's largest houses had indoors pools
like this one.
The pools weren't used for swimming; rather they were used to help cool the rooms with running water when the
summer days got too hot. I'm sure people also enjoyed the peaceful sound of the
gurgling water.
However, I liked to imagine ladies from the
Sultan's harem traveling through Turkey and lounging by the pool. A girl can
dream, right?
Candles reflecting off the pool water gave the
room a soft glow and romantic atmosphere.
Well, we enjoyed our five-o'clock glasses of Efes
beer relaxing by the pool and wondering what life was like back in this Ottoman
town.
Don't you wish your salon had a pool like this?
·
Havuzlu Asmazlar
Konağı Hotel - The 11 guest rooms are
beautifully furnished with brass beds and kilims, and the restaurant serves a
decent selection of traditional Turkish food.
Beybagi, Celik Gülersoy Cad. No. 18
Safranbolu, Turkey
 |
| Check out this cool fountain head at the pool at Havuzlu Asmazlar Konağı Hotel in Safranbolu. |
6 comments:
i would love to see that place! have fun!!!
@Joyce, Turkey really is an amazing country to travel in. I hope you can visit someday!
my adopted son is the Deputy Provincial Governor there - where he goes we visit (of course). Did you get to explore the back streets? http://archersofokcular.com/impressions-backstreet-backdrops-safranbolu/
Beautiful! So interesting. I didn't know about Pat's website either. I'll have to check it out.
It looks like such a heavenly side - must go back to Safranbolu next time in Turkey, thanks Joy!
@Alan, very interesting! We did do some exploring in Safranbolu on the back streets esp. the small mosque that had a creek running through it. Very cute town!
@Karen, Pat's website is great for traveling around Turkey!
@Ozlem, thanks! We really had a great weekend in Safranbolu so I highly recommend it.
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