Steve in Turkey!: Ankara güzel mi? (Ankara, beautiful?)

Generally when I talk to someone in Ankara, they ask me if I like their city. I will always respond by saying that I do, and that it is a very beautiful city. Often, I'll get the reaction, "Ankara güzel mi?" Though it's true Ankara isn't the most beautiful city in Turkey, or the world, I do find it a very beautiful place. In the following photographs, I will attempt to explain why....
(If you're on the front page, you have to click to keep reading.)

Ankara is not unlike Washington D.C.. A new nation constructed a new capital in a central location after its founding. As a result, there are monuments and stuff, but it isn't necessarily the most historic city. In Ankara, there are lots of important looking government buildings, but there is also vibrant city life. Some streets, like Seventh Street (Eski Yedinci Caddesi) in my neighborhood of Bahçelievler ('Houses w/ Gardens') have got a serious amount of people, shops, and things to do and see.

Hopefully these photos give you an idea of just how busy this street is. They don't do it justice in my opinion.

It's a great place, but how does the city look?
In my opinion, great. Ankara's skyline is different from most cities that I've seen. It's less a skyline and more of a horizon filled with buildings. It's not dominated by skyscrapers, in fact it's a bit more democratic because most buildings are about the same height. The skyline stretches for miles with occasional empty spots on hills.

There are two places where I've had the opportunity to take some pictures of the skyline. One is Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder and first president of the Turkish republic. The other is the balcony at Tömer. Let's do Tömer first. It's less impressive, but it is located in Kızılay, the heart of the city (at least transportation network-wise.)

I'd assemble these into a panorama but I don't have photoshop with me.

I think it's a very nice view, and you can definitely see buildings stretching out for miles. But, the views from Anıtkabir are even better....

Also, Anıtkabir itself is a beautiful place, more of that later....

Here I am.

Ankara güzel mi? Tabii efendim.

And, now for some photos of Anıtkabir itself, because it is definitely a spectacular place. The amount of tourists it attracts is definitely justified.

Outside the mausoleum itself there are a lot of flowers:

Probably one of my favorite flower displays ever.
The Turkish flag in the shape of Turkey in flowers!

Before reaching the mausoleum itself there are some fake soldiers, and a museum containing artifacts from Atatürk's life, including weaponry, paintings, and my personal favorite--a commemorative plaque presented by the national assembly when the new Turkish alphabet was unveiled.