Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Mardin is famous for its old town on top of the mountain lined with its historic golden honey coloured houses made of limestones which are pretty enhanced during sunset.  The houses are built in layers on the sides of the rock steep mountain.  It’s a magical setting or fairy tale if I may use to describe it,  I could easily imagine the distant past of a kingdom with its king’s castle high on top of the hill and its constituents residing around it.

Most of the houses which are decorated with ornate old carvings are big enough to fit extended family members. 



Here’s a trivia ---  Houses that has a carved picture of the Kaaba in Makkah on its doors means that the owner has already made the pilgrimage to Makkah and therefore entitled to be called “Haci” (pronounced Hajji).

While searching for the sights, you will be wandering around, walking through the cobbled stone streets and narrow lanes layered around the rocky mountain.  The lanes are quaint and charming and walking around is an itinerary in itself.  There are lanes with arched tunnels below some houses for people to pass.  You’ll encounter local residents going about their daily chores and a visitor would occasionally hear hellos, welcome or merhaba.  






Walking along the streets of Mardin is like walking in an enchanted town, a labyrinth that offers a sense of  4,000 years of history with exciting sights on every turn of a corner.

The people are used to tourists wandering the streets, although in my personal opinion (and experience) the people in Midyat are more friendly.

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