First of all I would like to begin by writing Gaziantep is very authentic. Our first place was famous Tahmis Café. As a word, meaning of the Tahmis is sold place of roasted and ground coffee. This coffeehouse one of the shops has been built in the Ottoman period to provide income to Mevlevihane. Today, this please operated by the same family, business taken from father to son by almost 80-90 years. You feel immediately different atmosphere when you go in to the cafe. At an Anatolian city, women can come to café which is normally belonging to men and they can drink something comfortably. At this place young generation and women usually sit in the mezzanine, at the lower floor regular customers sit. You can drink special menengi coffe or thyme tea here. Menengi is a specific type of coffee belong to Tahmis, it is making from a plant seed, called citlenbik, coffe obtained by beating of seed. You can get photo of regular customers at the lower floor. It looks everyone is familiar with the situation.

On the left side of the coffeehouse there is Gaziantep bazaar. The shops are restored here. When you enter in to semi-closed bazaar you feel like going to another time. One side, fires scorched iron been beaten, from the other shop you hear hammer sounds meeting with copper in master hands. Tradesmen very friendly and open to chat, they don’t give reaction while you try to take their photos. Of course, always exceptional thing can be happen.

Bazaar divided to a few arms. There are sings at the entrance of each arm like coppersmiths, tobacconist etc. When you enter the streets of yemeniciler (kind of shoe maker) you will see a sign. It is written Hayri Usta, all shoes of the Troy film produced in this store. There is a signed photo by Brad Pitt on the wall and writing thank you for the shoes. There are many boots and shoes around reminiscent of the past century. We wanted to see the workshop. We meet there a soft-spoken master he explains us that he made this job since 70 years. He said that, he can produce only 13-14 pair shoes per day. Each of them needs different craftsmanship, we have taken photo of them.

There is very interesting place the name is Sehrekustu in this region, yarn manufacturing is done in the caves. The first cave, a small place, this was Sanko Holding’s first place. Today, it seems this place abandoned but in the cave, children are still continue to work. I suggest you to go big cave it is more interesting then small one we learned that it is used as film set also. You see a lot of children they go to right and left in a large cave, you think at the beginning like, what is this? They try to make yarn by they twisted on the winder. They call them self as winder. This yarn use to tie up cotton bales. Raw materiel comes from Denizli and they sent to Adana when they finished. Ones upon a time there were many caves to do this job but with high technology there are only two caves today.

There is a very good restaurant in Sehrekustu with affordable prices. Altintel restaurant only a hundered meters to caves. This restaurant is very large, clean and with luxurious appearance will surprise you with the cheapest prices. As in every place in Gaziantep you should absolutely eat kebab and baklava. In side of the baklava full with peanuts, I can say that everywhere in Antep baklava was beautiful. Altintel address and phone: Zekeriya mihal Cengiz Topel Caddesi Sokak No: 5 Sehrekustu (near the Tomb of Ali Baba) tel: 0342 226 46 46. Another famous place is in the market, Imam Cagdas Restaurant. This is a nice place, but prices also comparatively expensive. If you ask this restaurant in the bazaar you will find easily. Baklava’s most delicious place is Kor Kenan place. I really can say we have tasted here most delicious baklava of Antep. It is just opposite of Gaziantep stadium. Address: Yaprak mahallesi istasyon street No:70/C Sehitkamil. Phone: 0342 230 45 24. A small note, this place is open 24 hours. I should also warn you about kebab, do not try if you are not resistant to hot. Also in this region lamb meet using for the kebab.

Accommodation was not very luxurious but Katan Hotel was ok. I would recommend you this hotel. It is two star hotel but very clean and in the morning they give rich open buffet breakfast. Single room price 26 $, double room 33 $. Telephone: 0090 (0) 342-230 69 69
You can visit Duluk ancient city before you leave from Gaziantep it is only 10 km to the city. Here are the underground cities and caves. But yet two of the caves open to visitors, excavation was still continue when we been there. Obviously this place can be last option to see because there aren’t many places to see yet. If you like taking photos you can go to Duluk train station and take nice photos of abandoned building with children playing around the train station.