Mersin.. Mersin..

MERSIN GUIDE FOR COUCHSURFERS

"Pearl of the Mediterranean"
Mersin is a wonderful city in Turkey on the Mediterranean coast.

Mersin is a large city and a port on the Mediterranean coast of southern Turkey. It is part of an interurban agglomeration – the Adana-Mersin Metropolitan Area – and lies on the western part of Çukurova, a geographical, economical and cultural region. According to Evliya Çelebi, the city is named after the Mersinoğullari clan; another theory is that it is made from the myrtle (Greek: μύρτος, μυρσίνη) which grows abundanlty in the region.
Mersin is important for Turkey's economy, and Turkey's largest seaport is located there. Mersin's nickname within Turkey is "Pearl of the Mediterranean" (Turkish: Akdeniz'in İncisi) and the city will host the 2013 Mediterranean Games.
According to the Turkish Statistical Institute, as of 2011 the Mersin Metropolitan Municipality had a population of 859,680.

GET IN
By train

There are fairly modern and air-con trains every hour or more frequently during the rush hours to and from Adana and Tarsus. The journey time is between 45-60 minutes, depending on the number of stops.

By plane
There are flights to and from Istanbul and Ankara to the closest airport, Adana Sakirpasa Airport. There are shuttles from the airport to Mersin.

By bus
There is a bus station in eastern part of the city. There are city buses running between the city center and the bus station. Usually each bus company has its own shuttles running between city center, western and the bus station. From the bus station there are buses to almost every city in Turkey.

CULTURE

Because the city has been a crossroads for centuries, the local culture is a medley of civilizations. Mersin has a State Opera and Ballet, the fourth in Turkey after Istanbul, İzmir and Ankara. Mersin International Music Festival was established in 2001 and takes place every October. The photography association Mersin Fotograf Derneği (MFD), is one of the most popular and active cultural organizations in the city. Some cultural activities are sponsored by the İçel sanat kulübü (i.e., Art club of Mersin) There is a great museum in the city centre.

The municipal cemetery is interesting as people of all faiths and denominations can be buried here.

The City hosts the Roman Catholic Co-Cathedral of St. Anthony of Padua.

In order to swim in clean water you need to get out of town, perhaps an hour along the coast. The beaches at Kızkalesi, Ayaş, Susanoğlu (app. 50–70 km west) are popular with families while young people prefer Akyar, Yapraklı koy, Narlıkuyu or quieter bays along the coast, some of which are very attractive indeed.

Discovering Mersin is very easy job to do because city based on 1 main road, that you will use for rich lots of places.
Mersin - Tarsus 28 km and 40 minutes by minibus or train. Mersin-Erdemli 38 km and Erdemli-Silifke 48 km.

EAT, DRINK AND DESERTS

MERSIN TANTUNI


Tantuni is one of the most famous food in this region. Don't leave the city without tasting it. In the center of the city, you will see several small local restaurants with this special fantastique food. Try with Ayran or Salgam.

TARSUS FINDIK LAHMACUN


Lahmacun is a traditional eastern item of prepared food of Arab origin from the early Levantine cuisine, consisting of a round, thin soft piece of dough topped with spicy sauce and minced meat (most commonly beef and lamb) and straight leaved parsley. Lahmacun is often served sprinkled with lemon juice and wrapped around vegetables, including pickles, tomatoes, peppers, onions, lettuce, and parsley, cabbage salad or cilantro; atypical variants may be found as wraps for kebab meat or sauces. Between Lahmacun and Tarsus Findik Lahmacun difference is size.

TARSUS HUMMUS


Hummus is a dip or spread made from cooked, mashed chickpeas, blended with tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and garlic. It is a popular food throughout the Middle East and elsewhere.

KEREBIC

Kerebic is dessert unique to this area. It is a dough filled with pistachios and served with vegetarian cream on top of it.

KÜNEFE

Künefe is also another dessert completely unique to the arabic influented areas. Its oven baked shredded pastry with salt-free cheese filling in thick syrup. Although its really requires a developed taste, it carries the spirit of the vicinity

DISCOVER MERSIN ON OTHER WEB PAGES
http://oibs.mersin.edu.tr/oibs/_modul/_www_bologna/?id=/mersin&dil=en
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mersin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mersin_Province
http://wikitravel.org/en/Mersin
http://www.anatolia.luwo.be/destinations/mersin.html