A Discovering Day at Anadolu University

Exploring Anadolu University Campus

As it is same with most of the other universities in Turkey, Anadolu University located in Eskişehir has also a huge campus where all the faculties and university related centers are gathered. But different from the others, Anadolu University is on the top ten biggest campuses list. The university has two campuses, Yunus Emre and 2 Eylül. The one I visited is the main campus, Yunus Emre.

The day was really wonderful for October. The sun was shining and the weather was around 25 degrees. It was a perfect moment to explore the main campus of Anadolu University. The campus is so near to the city center. The university avenue takes you directly to the university from the city center within 2 km. or taking the tram can also be a good option but then it stops at the Eczacılık entrance of the campus.

Entering to the university from the main entrance the sculpture of Yunus Emre ( A famous Turkish philosopher) one of the many sculptures spreaded around in the campus, which I actually more focused on, welcomes you to the university. From the entrance of the university it is normal to get impression that the campus is nicely structured and planed and not even one tree left alone. This is basically true. The campus is really well kept by the gardeners and the buildings are nicely located in between the green areas. The campus actually has more than two entrances but the most used ones are the main entrance and the one where the tram stops (Eczacılık). There are many people using bicycles even though there is no any bicycle ways in the campus.

One of the main things that can get the attention on easily is that all the buildings in the campus are built by red tiles. This actually proves that Eskişehir is famous with its tile. The first tile fabrics in Turkey had opened in Eskişehir, now the fabrics are restored as hotels, nightclubs, bars and restaurants. The red tile buildings remind me the mid-old apartment districts in Canada and in Western European cities. It gave the campus a nice and calm atmosphere with a nice view. The roofs are in a harmony with the tile color and going all the way down to the first floor in many buildings, and looks like some ski resorts in Alps. It is hard to find a ugly building in the campus. Just to remind, to help your tour there are maps in big billboards located in different places at the campus too.

Rector's Building

Especially the rector’s building and the library are good presenters of the campus's architectural structure. Mezzanine floor between these two buildings, which handles the role of connection for four directions and the central point of whole campus, keeps little secret gardens under it. Under the mezzanine near the gardens there are bookstores, banks and post office, even a gift shop where you can buy something souvenir of the university. In the warm days like the day I had my tour, if it gets too warm and it discomforts you can sit near the sprinklers in these small gardens and rest a bit. The mezzanine keeps the place cool. To satisfy the hunger The Stone House (Taş Bina) Restaurant would be a nice idea, which is located so near to the rector’s building. The Stone House has also it's own style of outseen. The building is covered by stones. The place would be really cozy during winter time. Near by The Stone House, there is Kahve Dünyası (Coffee World) and Simit Sarayı (Bagel cafe) situated nicely on the most crowded street of the campus. It can easily be understood that these two cafes are the ones where everyone meets with friends. Chocolate fondue in Kahve Dünysı can be a good tip. There is a modern arts museum at the same time exhibition hall near to the fine arts faculty where different exhibitions are being shown. The place is active, meaning that it is there is usually some exhibitions. The building has also a nice style, which reminds old day's railway stations and in a good harmony with red tiled buildings.

The Stone House

The Secret Garden of the Campus

Exploring more the campus, there is a place called Japanese Garden where the students are not allowed to go in. The place is like a huge forest with lakes and restaurants in it. When entering to the area it gives the feeling of going in to Alice's wonderland. Huge and old trees, gardens, flowers and kept well nature welcomes you directly after you pass the entrance. There are two places to sit and eat. One of them is the Anadolu Hotel's restaurant and the other one is the cafe near by a lovely lake. The area is also the only place in campus where it is found alcoholic drinks. The place would a good alternative to sit and drink a beer or a Turkish coffee after a nice lunch at The Stone House. A long pathway near by the big lake, between the cafe and the Hotel's restaurant, takes you to a bridge where you can sit on a bench and watch the fishes moving around in the lake at the same time a wonderful view of the forest and the city seen in between the trees' leaves. There are some pathways going in to the forest, to some places where you clearly see the view of the city but I preferred to watch the wonderfully shaped old trees and the fishes in the lake.

Japanese Garden

Japanese Garden pathways

Entrance from the side of cafe

Continuing to the tour, the campus has a huge green space which is formed by small hills. There is a open air amphitheater at the highest place of the area, where you can see a good view of the green area and the ornamental pools gathered with some sculptures. The pathways going to different directions on the green area are actually connecting the different parts of campus. I went to that amphitheater and sat down watched the view of the green. There was many students lying down on the grasses. But the only kitsch in the scene was definetly the open faculty building, which has nothing to do with the main style of the campus. But at least that was the only building, which was not related to anything in the campus, at least from my eyes.

As I wrote before, the campus is surrounded by many sculptures. This is also a affect of the fine arts faculty and it's students. When you walk somewhere in the campus, a sculpture can easily show up somewhere in the corner.

In the north part of the campus where the center is a bit away, there is a new built center with cafes, banks, a tailor and a hair dresser. The place looks cute with one floor red tiled buildings and a clock tower in the middle of the square. The place is quieter comparing to the area near by the Rector’s building and The Stone House. A perfect place to experience the tranquility...

The university gives the feeling that there are many opportunities of restaurants, cafes and different places for its students and staff.

One thing to be careful in the campus is that especially in the north part of the campus the sidewalks are not really suitable to walk on them without looking down because of the trees' roots that damage the sidewalks.

The best time to visit the campus and the city would be during autumn or spring. If you do not care about the cold the winters at the campus is wonderful. The snow covers everywhere and the red buildings make a really good combination with nature’s white. But summers are not so welcoming in Eskişehir. You can really feel the drought continental climate's hot summer. 

Amphitheatre

The Green Area

Design And Shop in The Country of A Little Man Pee in Marols

Took the flight to the North from my student town Eskişehir in the midnight together with many local people who have immigrated there in the 60's. The little country in west Europe, Belgium. The plane landed to Brussels International Airport in the very morning. I took the bus from the airport to the Hotel where I will stay for the days i participate in a meeting in Brussels. I had freedays to discover the city in my perspective. Where to find design, where to find small local design shops, and ofcourse where to shop. Brussels’s population is around 1.5 million and locates in the center of the country. The city is located in between the two big provinces of the country Wallonia and Flanders.

   Surprisingly, even if the country is so small, the speculation about being two different countries in one is actual. To phrase it as "speculations" can be a mistake because Belgium contains two "wanna be" countries in it. This is mainly because of two different nations living in the country: Flemish Belgians and French Belgians. Once you cross over from one to another region all of a sudden everything changes such as the language, culture, economy etc... Brussels is officially located in the Flemish part but however the spoken language and the culture are basically French. During my stay in Belgium I only visited the cities in the Flemish part.

Why A little Man Pee in Marols?

The most popular and worldwide known part of Belgian history is the little child peeing in marols. Belgians have two legends on this child. One of them is that when all the houses were wooden, the Child saved the city from a big fire by peeing. And the other claim is that once upon a time the King had lost his child and after years past he found him while he was peeing. Whatever the fact is Belgians like this child and you can see that from the sculptures of him located in every city in Belgium.

Brussels

The very first impression that everyone can easily gets from the city is firstly the huge population of non-Belgians and the feeling of a capital city that authorities all Europe. The state buildings, European parliament and all its institutions, ministries, committees and the people working in the state creates a big part of the city view. Especially during the week days, in the center, the number of people all dressed nicely and formal is so high. The center of the city is Grand Palace. It is known by the belgian carpet that they create by flowers every year on the square. 

Where to See Design

The diverse population and the advantages of being the capital of Europe make Brussels a wonderful place to explore the design that comes not only from every single place in Europe but also from all over the world.

Especially the small streets are waiting for its guest to be explored. There are variety of design centers, alternative furniture shops, art galleries and worldwide known design brands in the city. Especially Hoogstraat and the district in between Joseph Steven street and Rollebeekstraat can strongly recommended to design addicts. The worldwide known exclusive design brands as the Danish Jevellery GeorgJensen, finish tool design Iittala are in the district. Moreover that, especially the Hoog Street is a place where you find any kind of design. Every single store on the street has its own style and beside the European style and taste it is even possible to find Indian, Chinese or even African design. In between the Avenue Louise and Hoogstraat there is a little square with some lounges where you can sit and chill out in front of the wonderful justice palace. If it is time to discover the design of fashion then the right address will be Avenue Louise and Boulevard de Waterloo. To go there after your chilling you can take the elevator up to Louisealaan, where you also meet with a wonderful view of the city. After taking photos you can continue on your fashion tour. On the Voulevard de Waterloo you will mainly find mostly known exclusive fashion brands as Louis Vuitton, Hermes etc... But on the Avenue Louise there are variety of unique brands as well as the known ones like Cos, Flippa K, Urban Outfitters, Acne and more...

After A Tiring Day

As it is known, Belgium is famous with its chocolate.

 The much known chocolate shops Godiva and Neuhaus are coming from here. Actually I would like to consider these chocolates as pieces of design. Each chocolate has its own seen and taste. How they decorate the tops and how they fill in the chocolates with variety of tastes can only be explained by using the word design. When you once try it probably you will want for more. But it is good to watch out the prices. One piece of chocolate can easily cost you 10 euros. To advice a wallet-friendly sweet I can strongly recommend Speculoos which is made of biscuits but in a cream form. It can be find in any regular market.

If you want to get the answers of where to eat after a tiring day of design discovering in the city I would strongly recommend Place Du Luxe. It is the square in front of the European Paliament where you can find lots of bars, cafes, and restaurants. After a nice dinner if you also want to see a nice place with bars and taste on of the 500 types of Belgian beers then the right address for you is St. Gery. It is a square so near to the Grand palace, where you can experience the night life in Brussels. Try Mappa Mundo Bar!