Day 15 – Konya (on the way to Goreme)

13 March , 2008 in oz-bus

Although we don’t stop here, the frustrated urban planner in me has to mention this  large modern city slap, bang in the centre of Turkey.

Placed in the central deserts  of Turkey, this city of skyscrapers and constant construction has more the feel of the mid-west of USA than the Middle East. We travel past a linear park which runs alongside the main dual carriageway through the conurbation, within it there are trees, a pathway and a tramline all pointing like an arrow straight to the city centre. Beside the park on the opposite side to the road our bus is travelling down are blocks and blocks of low rise flats all set out in a grid next to this transport artery. What makes it such a sight to behold is the length and scale of this townscape, as it takes one half-hour to pass by.

Maybe it’s being brought up in New Town, or having gone out with a girl from Milton Keynes – but Konya caught my eye and interest just as much as the strange dwellings of Goreme will later in the day.

Note to Tyler Brule and Monocle magazine – go to Konya, Turkey