TURKEY LOVES ITS CATS -- 12

THE KEDI OF BURSA'S COVERED MARKET DISTRICT

The street cats of Turkey are generally well-fed. Some live in special houses built by locals to shelter them.

Bursa’s market district, with the wonderful Koza Han, is a must visit from Istanbul.

I stayed at Hotel Efehan.

It’s furniture and furnishings are very dated.

Almost as old as the antiques strewn through the lobby.

But I grew to love the place.

One of quietest night’s sleep I’ve ever had.

Very large room for the price.

Very warm water in tub-shower.

Adequate breakfast in a quirky rooftop restaurant with panoramic views.

Perfectly located near the markets.

Ground floor part that isn’t lobby is a spice market.

TURKEY LOVES ITS CATS -- 11

THE KEDI OF BURSA'S COVERED MARKET DISTRICT

Waiting for a Beggar’s Banquet.

After taking the fast ferry from Istanbul, you land in the port of Mudanya.

For a few dollars, and a pair of bus changes, you can get to the historic part of Bursa.

It takes a bit longer than an hour.

If you want curb to curb taxi service, it only takes about a half hour.

For this convenience, you will part with about 90 Turkish Lira = about $25 USD, still a huge bargain.

And you get to talk to your driver the whole way, even if neither of you speak more than 100 words in each other’s language.

You will still end your ride knowing your hack driver loves the LA Lakers, his kids love Burger King (much to his disdain) and you are entering the greenest big city in all of Turkey.

TURKEY LOVES ITS CATS -- 10

THE KEDI OF BURSA'S COVERED MARKET DISTRICT

I would give a week’s pay to someone who could explain every expression on every cat’s face.

A month’s pay to someone who could teach me cat vocabulary and grammar.

TURKEY LOVES ITS CATS -- 9

THE KEDI OF BURSA'S COVERED MARKET DISTRICT

Up to a dozen cats gather at closing time at the covered markets.

They never seem to fight.

They always seem to pry snacks from the stashes of adoring shopkeepers.

TURKEY LOVES ITS CATS -- 8

THE KEDI OF BURSA'S COVERED MARKET DISTRICT

This little critter begged at the threshold until an optician tossed out some meat scraps before shuttering his shop for the evening.

Bursa can be reached from Istanbul by fast ferry across the Sea of Marmara.

The IDO boat has air conditioned with comfy seats, nice restrooms and a snack bar with the best blueberry juice in the world.

The 90-minute trip costs less than $10 USD one-way.

TURKEY LOVES ITS CATS -- 7

THE KEDI OF BURSA'S COVERED MARKET DISTRICT

This happy cat loved lying down on a light meant to brighten the entryway to a shopkeeper’s wares.

I was afraid he was getting overheated, so I crouched down to stroke him.

He ran off, circled back, looked me in the eye and made enough yowls and trills and sounds to let me know I was getting cat cussed out.

When I backed off, he danced around the light till he found just the right spot.

Settled down, he looked like an aging actor lit by a backstage makeup mirror.

TURKEY LOVES ITS CATS -- 6

THE KEDI OF BURSA'S COVERED MARKET DISTRICT

What beautiful white whiskers and blaze on this wonderful boy – a natural model who framed himself perfectly for this portrait.

Bursa, a city of 2.3 million, has modern fixed rail transit and buses. 

The old quarters are nicely linked and you could spend a long weekend in them without ever mingling with the modern metropolis.

TURKEY LOVES ITS CATS -- 5

THE KEDI OF BURSA'S COVERED MARKET DISTRICT

If I had a dollar for every cat I stopped to pet and talk to, I could buy a comfortable house in Bursa’s historic district.

During Ramazan, in the beautiful late spring, you can get a 3 star, very well-located hotel room – lavish rooftop breakfast and taxes included – for 120 Turkish Lira – less than $35 USD.

TURKEY LOVES ITS CATS -- 4

THE KEDI OF BURSA'S COVERED MARKET DISTRICT

With a face and expression like this, is there any wonder why Kedis (cats) have captivated the hearts of Turks?

Bursa’s 14th-century Ulu Cami (Great Mosque) features Seljuk-style arches and 20 domes.

TURKEY LOVES ITS CATS -- 3

THE KEDI OF BURSA'S COVERED MARKET DISTRICT

This black kitten staked out a safe and cool place to nap next to the bustling market shops.

Bursa is nicknamed "Yeşil Bursa" (Green Bursa), owing to its many parks and trees, as well as its dramatic mountain backdrop. 

TURKEY LOVES ITS CATS -- 2

THE KEDI OF BURSA'S COVERED MARKET DISTRICT

Cats line up at 7 p.m. closing time of the markets, hoping shopkeepers have some snacks for them before they head home.

Bursa is known for its mosques and historical sites from the early Ottoman Empire.