Ankara
“An interested visitor to Turkey must stop in Ankara for at least one day, in order to ground themselves.” James Ross – Classical Conductor.
Ankara is the heart of Anatolian power, and yet it is one of the most European cities in Turkey. The “new” town is constructed in a 1930’s Art Deco style that is reminiscent of Germany or Austria. It is reminiscent of a western Europe that was destroyed during the war. It has a vibrant restaurant and nightlife scene, but it also has the most interesting of museums: the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. This takes in all the cultures that have inhabited the Anatolian lands before the arrival of the Turks. A visit to Ataturk’s Mausoleum is a must as this gives you an understanding of the reverence in which some Turkish people hold him.
Stay: Ankara Hilton. You cannot go wrong with the Hilton in Turkey.