I love this city when...

Hi there — I've been living, enjoying (or barely surviving) in this euphoric wonderland called Adana for about 4 years now. Throughout this adventure, I've been to many places, made many friends (and lost just as many), and encountered countless unforgettable moments. To be honest, I've never really figured out whether I genuinely love it or absolutely hate it. Still wondering about that... So I decided to write a post about it. Because why not? Maybe you can tell me whether I actually like this city or not.

I've done my best not to let any meaningful moment slip by unrecorded, so I captured as many of them as I could through my lens.

In this blog post, I'll be sharing some of my original photos taken in Adana — all of them solid reasons why I definitely love this city. Hence, the title. Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce...

© Seçkin Poyraz.

Yeah, I think this single picture sums up everything I feel about Adana. I had absolutely no doubt it would be the first photo in this post.

This picture doesn't have a specific title. It's just an introduction. But if I had to say anything about it, it'd be "We've all been there."

© Seçkin Poyraz.

Ain't it great to have friends who drive you to school? You do have friends, right?... Right?

© Seçkin Poyraz.

Despite the dreadful traffic, absurdly overcrowded buses, and reckless drivers, leaning back and taking in the view while listening to music is my perfect escape.

Every Adana local has a deep connection with this view and this road. Your angry days, your happy days, your wish-I-was-never-born days, your glad-to-be-alive days... You pass this road every single morning regardless of your mood. This road and its view will live in my head rent-free, forever.

© Seçkin Poyraz.

Enough said, my good citizen.

© Seçkin Poyraz.

Ahhh, this will forever be my dream apartment. Thank you for the timely reminder that I am still miserable.

There are plenty more signs like these scattered across the city. This post will be updated as soon as I capture more.

© Seçkin Poyraz.

The campus... It's vast, blanketed in tall trees, greener than you can imagine, and bursting with colorful flowers. What more could you ask for from a campus?

© Seçkin Poyraz.

Good old medikososyal... For a brief moment, I could have sworn I was in Japan.

The campus is completely separated from the city center — thank God for that — so the moment you step inside, you feel noticeably happier and more motivated. At least, it used to make me feel that way :')

© Seçkin Poyraz.

4am... After a rainy autumn day... Just me, my anxiety, my restlessness, and the smell of wet asphalt. I know it's hard to believe, but these moments shaped me into who I am today. Shoutout to everyone going through a rough time right now — you will get through it. Trust the process.

© Seçkin Poyraz.

The same roads you've walked a thousand times hit completely different at 4am. Trust me.

I think I truly love this city when it's just me in it. Quite understandable, really. Disclaimer: If you're afraid of running into packs of stray dogs late at night, don't try this. You've been warned.

© Seçkin Poyraz.

Can you feel the liminal space vibes in this photo too? I absolutely love it.

© Seçkin Poyraz.

I've always thought this looked like a photo straight out of Central Park, NYC. Why are you laughing?

© Seçkin Poyraz.

So much happiness and sadness is buried in this park. It all feels very real when the night sets in.

I don't want to overdramatize, but this park has been with me through my darkest moments. Truly dark ones. If this park could become a person, it would undoubtedly be my best friend. I have countless memories scattered all across it, and I'm so grateful for every single one. I sincerely hope it stays exactly as it is when I come back someday.

And that's a wrap. As you can see, these photos mean a great deal to me — and the beautiful memories embedded in them are what keep me tied to this city. I think I genuinely love and hate this city at the same time, and somehow, that's perfectly fine. I believe everyone who's ever lived here feels exactly the same way about Adana. That's all for now. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. Feel free to leave a comment and share your own stories with me! Take good care of yourselves, and goodbye!