New Year: '69 becomes '70!, a photo from Ankara, Central Anatolia

Photographer's Note

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I move from Italy in 1969 to a journey through Turkey, Iran and Iraq in 1970.

This is from the old part of Ankara, capital of Turkey, and as you will see in the second WS and on the Google map it looked very different then.

I have posted some photos from that journey before, but recently I scanned several more. They were all taken with Agfacolor CT18 films.

I personally find today's photos quite interesting, for different reasons. I believe that what you see on the hill in the main photo is a huge shantytown known as a "gecekondu bölgesi", a neighbourhood consisting of houses illegally erected in just one night. There was a rule, as probably in some other countries in earlier days of widespread poverty, that if a family could build a house without a permit, cover it with a temporary roof and move in without being caught, they could not be evicted. Then they could take their time to finish the job without worrying about the police.

A minibus like those seen here is called a "dolmuş", going on a set route and usually taking off only when fully packed. Obviously this was a big dolmuş hub, showing that it was a central location.

For the WS #1 I just pointed the camera to the right, and maybe also took a few steps to the right.

I have been to Ankara a number of times in later years and haven't seen any area looking even remotely like this. The Turkish capital is now a modern multimillion city.

Trying to find out if anything seen here even exists today, I travelled with the Google camera car back and forth in this area. I was overjoyed to suddenly arrive at exactly this place. "Map: view" will show you. Or you can look at the screenshot in the second WS.

But don't forget the other nearby view in WS #1.

aliabazari, Fis2, ikeharel, pierrefonds, jhm, PaulVDV, jean113, ktanska, mcmtanyel, COSTANTINO, adramad trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

Silvio1953 (221593) 2022-01-03 0:32

Ciao Gert, my today neighbour, an other great view from the past with fantastic town on hill, lovely busi composition with a lot of Vans, wonderful colors, excellent clarity, fine details and splendid light, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

pajaran (115891) 2022-01-03 0:45

Pozdrav.

Dana smo komsije sa fotografijama na TE.

Lep pogled i trenutak, dobar tekst ...
Lep deo grada i automobili, dobro pokazano sa lepim bojama, kontrastom, perspektivom i uhvacenim trenutkom.
Dobar rad sa lepim fotografiajma u radionci.
Lepe fotografije i secanje.

Zelim vam lep i uspesan dan, sve najbolje u novoj nedelji koja je pocela.
Paja

aliabazari (22175) 2022-01-03 0:55

Hi dear friend Gert
Again one of your beautiful shots from years gone by. Clarity and exposure are well done.
Happy New Year to you and your family.

Fis2 (170747) 2022-01-03 1:10

Witaj Gert!
Another curious photo from Your archive.
Interesting view, curious scene from street.
Good framing and colors.
Excellent shot from daily life.
Well done.
Good morning.
Krzysztof

ikeharel (113345) 2022-01-03 1:27

marvelous sight from 1970, Gert, excellent scanning job.
The vibrant scene superbly rendered here. WS's also shown the city tumulted action.
Have a nice new week,
Ike

pierrefonds (114448) 2022-01-03 4:56

Hi Gert,

You have captured well a daily life scene. The point of view is showing the details of the mini-buses and of the buildings in the baclground. The light is enhancing the beauty of the colors. Have a nice day.

Pierre

jhm (211736) 2022-01-03 5:54

Hello Gert,

69-70 a very important year for my carrier, a pity to long ago!
I look every time with much attention to your very good slide photos so long ago.
You was real a world citizen as journalist.
What a picture with the slope of the mountain an completely village.
Lovely composition nice sharp and clear.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John

PaulVDV (62892) 2022-01-03 6:05

Hello Gert,
I seem to remember the view in your first WS from a visit in 1996. I may have stayed in a hotel (otel) on that street but I'm not sure anymore.
I think the Ankara Castle at that time was called the Citadel.
For obscure reasons I don't remember the other hill. However, when you're standing in that spot, it's hard to see just one of both hills.
Did you go to that gecekondu bölgesi?
What would the dolmuşes look like now?
Great shots!
Best regards, Paul

jean113 (27853) 2022-01-03 8:04

Hello Gert, it is always interesting to see how places change through the decades, and comparing your two images there is quite a difference, but it is over 50 years ago.
Fascinating pictures.
Thanks for sharing.
Kind regards, Jean.

ktanska (44766) 2022-01-03 9:30

Hej Gert,
Although there are lots of houses this doesn't have a big city feeling because almost all buildings are small. No doubt this place looks very different now. I like the round forms of those minibuses. And metallic shine of the middle one. Ankara doesn't appear often in the news and about as rarely here in TE. So this is quite interesting.
Kari

lousat (139266) 2022-01-03 9:39

Hi Gert,it's always nice to make comparisons with and photos of the past, many things have changed and you can recognize the place only thanks to the hill which is always in the same place of course .. hehhee .. good memories from Ankara of this long journey of yours, this was an interesting stage, however, thanks also for the other WS which shows cars and clothes of the time. Have a nice evening! Luciano

jmdias (115156) 2022-01-03 10:01

gert

these three images have a nice quality despite the time. nice details as the old cars and the people and even aspects of the old town.

take care

jorge

emka (158156) 2022-01-03 13:58

Hello Gert, Very good quality for these very old photos.
You travelled in the exotic countries, for me 1970 was the busiest and most important year in my life. I married, had a child and finished my University study. I wasn't thinking about travelling.
Amazing view of these houses on the slope, I see even the minaret there. How it has changed after the years!
Was twice in Turkey, the first time in the nineties, visiting mainly Greek ruins. I remember dolmuses, later I called them marshrutkas.

I would like to see some places in Turkey, like Hattusa and Nemrut Dagi, but it will be probably not possible :(.

Best regards MAlgo

ifege (48085) 2022-01-03 19:51

Hi Gert
The style of the dolmuses certainly give away the era. The area has also changed a lot in 50 years. Good reportage.
cheers
Ian

mcmtanyel (68503) 2022-01-03 21:06

Hello Gert,
Ah, you are showing minibuses from my childhood. To add to your explanation of gecekondu: The word means "[it has] landed overnight." They built these in the dark so fast that they seem to appear overnight. Then politicians would secure votes by legitimizing these buildings, giving the owners their deeds.
Regards,
MT

COSTANTINO (116490) 2022-01-03 22:45

Hello my dearest friend Gert
another photo from you with
great value of tradition..
so many years ago and a different
new year 1970.....me too i had
agfacolor films...
photo with the personal stamp
of Gert THANKS
regards
costantino

adramad (72978) 2022-01-04 4:44

Hi Gert.
In this composition, the street is very lively with cars and people, an interesting perspective with the openness of buildings on the top of the hill.
Undoubtedly, since these times the city has changed a lot, good views also in the WS.
Magnificent composition and color.
Excellent brightness and sharpness.
Good job. I love the photo.
Have a good week.
Very best regards.
Luis.

BennyV (34748) 2022-01-04 7:37

Lovely step back in time for this post, Gert. Great old cars, wonderful view. We visited Ankara some 15 years ago and I think I even remember this location from when we visited it. Some things change, some things remain the same.

Best wishes to you for...2022. Time flies!

Benny

kasianowak (17676) 2022-01-04 9:11

In the Google shot there are a few blue dolmuş-like buses in the background. Could these be a modern version? I can't comment on Ankara as I only saw it from the air while changing flights on the way from Erbil to Istanbul. It looked very modern but it was dark and I was not able to observe any details. I did travel in dolmuşlar in Turkish Kurdistan. They were mostly modern white vans.
Interesting to see this glimpse into the past and thank you for your fascinating note. I'm looking forward to more uploads from your trip.

GyurMaster (24830) 2022-01-05 11:54

Dear Gert,

It is good to compare this view with a more recent google street view photo. Half a century has passed and what a change! Anyhow, I like your older version of the same street with the minibuses, the crowd and all the 'buzz'that one could hear looking at your photo.

Best Wishes,
Gy.

Best Wishes,
Gy.

ChrisJ (171822) 2022-01-07 6:37

Hej Gert

I actually stayed atop that hill near the citadel. A Roman amphitheatre was excavated below the cliff at left. Good colour and sharpness for a scan. Tfs!