🛑 NOTE 1 🛑
There is TRAVEL GUIDE for KARS, u will find if u scroll down my profile. In case u are visiting KARS for the first time, I hope it will make your stay more interesting.
Also, I have TRAVEL GUIDE for ISTANBUL, if u are interested, dm me to send it to u.

🛑 NOTE 2 🛑
If I decline your stay request without texting u back that does mean you didn’t read my home details and rules.

🛑 NOTE 3 🛑
I organize Couchsurfing weekly events in Kars every Sunday evening. Hit me up if u wanna join.

🛑 NOTE 4 🛑
I kindly ask don't send friend request if we have never met. If u send it I will have to regretfully refuse it.

_____________________

ABOUT ME:
SiMo is abbreviation of my name. I’m from Mauritania.
I’m a freelancer, hitchhiker and backpacker.
I enjoy many things, like street food, deep talks, meeting new people, “country music” and sunset (I have highlight on my Instagram called “my sunsets” where I collected beautiful sunset views from different places)

UPDATE:
After I have lived in ISTANBUL for more than one year, I came back again to KARS ((the middle of nowhere 😅)) to continue my university studies.
Throughout my time in Istanbul, I worked in different and many jobs (such as international guests specialist, interpreter, real estate consultant... ect). During that time, I met amazing people at workplaceS and through Couchsufring too. They shared their life & travel experiences with me, and their inspiring stories. Those people made me believe that travel is the ultimate teacher.
I’m passionate about, travel, historical places, hitchhiking, running, tennis, golf, horse riding, photography, politics, documentaries, national & street food, country music, nature and much more. (If u are interested in one of them let’s meet and exchange 😀)

My Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/simo_10_10_?igsh=bm1rNWFjeGlqaDF3&utm_source=qr
______________________

PHILOSOPHY:
People are not strangers, just friends you haven't met yet.
______________________

INTERESTS:
- Travel
- Architecture
- Politics
- History
- Linguistics
- Italian fashion
_______________________

HOBBIES:
- Learning new languages
- Reading books 📚 & Listening Podcasts 🎙️
- Documentaries
- Running 🏃
- Tennis 🎾
- Horse riding 🏇
- Chess ♟️
______________________

⛔️ FOR SURFERS ⛔️
I don’t like when surfers act friendly and kind only when they need a place to stay. Once I can’t host them or they find other accommodation, they stop replying and disappear. We can still be friends and hang out, I don’t want to waste time with opportunistic and selfish people. I’m looking to meet genuine friends.

❌ DO NOT ❌
send me a stay request if you have NEVER hosted any surfer/traveler before.

🛑 P.S 🛑
You don't need to contact me only if u are planning to stay with me, you might also be in touch for tips, advice and/or informations.

🔴PLEASE🔴
Read the details of my home and look at the pictures of the room where you will be hosted before sending a stay request.
_______________________

Thanks for spending your time to read my profile.

See you in “the middle of nowhere: KARS” 😀🤗

———————————————-
⭕️KARS TRAVEL GUIDE⭕️
———————————————-

● Castle and the other historical, russian, Seljuk, and baltic buildings, like mosques & churchs, bridge, hamams, palaces… ect (FREE) [You can go there by walking if you stay close to city center]

— Castle of Kars: ENTRANCE FREE (open 24/24, the close time on Google Maps is not correct)
LOCATION👇🏼
https://maps.app.goo.gl/YEm3khyTPPQaZj5A7?g_st=ic

— Katerina Palace:
Currently it’s a hotel, but if you ask the reception to take a look they will gladly let you in.
LOCATION👇🏼
https://maps.app.goo.gl/HomSs7vLaXsHnnyk7?g_st=ic

— Cheltikov Palace: (highly recommended) ✔️
Currently it’s a hotel, but if you ask the reception to take a look they will gladly let you in.
LOCATION👇🏼
https://maps.app.goo.gl/fVBrYpz4nwwiqn5j8?g_st=ic

— Kars Hammamları (Kars Hamams/Baths)
Baths were built in Ottoman architectural technique at the beginning of the 17th century. Today, baths are repaired by the Governorship of Kars.
LOCATIONS👇🏼
https://maps.app.goo.gl/DWSAbu88nmh4uQdU9?g_st=ic

— Baltic architecture:
LOCATIONS👇🏼
1) https://maps.app.goo.gl/jccTMeczmYP9GEAn8?g_st=ic
2) https://maps.app.goo.gl/yVvY7SjWoqY6g1q88?g_st=ic

P.S:
- The 1st and 2nd Baltic buildings are currently government administrations, but it’s allowed to take pictures from outside.

● Fethiye Mosque, which is the famous mosque in KARS, and was a russian cathedral in the past. (FREE) [You can go there by walking if u stay close to city center]
For women: Cover your head and neck if you enter the mosque.
LOCATION👇🏼
https://maps.app.goo.gl/s9zUiSKF3cKddK8B6?g_st=ic

● Cheese Museum. (PAYED, cash and bank card)[You can go there by walking if you stay close to city center] (highly recommended) ✔️
LOCATION👇🏼
https://maps.app.goo.gl/512boEHJqG25E1Km8?g_st=ic

● Kafkas Cephesi Museum (PAYED, only cash, ticket : 40 TL 2023 year’s price) [You can go there by walking if you stay close to city center]
- P.S:
❌ Its location on Google maps is wrong ❌

● If you are interested in watching folk dance shows, this restaurant offers shows from time to time, but you must contact them for inquiries as well as advance reservations. (highly recommended) ✔️
P.S:
This restaurant is in an old Russian building.
LOCATION 👇🏼
https://maps.app.goo.gl/zGuxfzb7Hy56Atqq6?g_st=ic

● If you like skiing, you can go to (Sarıkamış Kayak Merkezi) which means (Sarıkamış ski resort). The price of ski supplies is about 800 TL (2023 year’s price). This resort is outside Kars, but there is a bus go there in every 30 minutes. Bus ticket 40 TL (2023 year’s price)
LOCATION 👇🏼
https://maps.app.goo.gl/wxAyjzW6E2TqWPyw8?g_st=ic

● If you’re interested in local food, I recommend to try (Kaz meal) which is rice with goose, it’s the famous meal in Kars. This restaurant specializes in it👇🏼
https://maps.app.goo.gl/8WYXGN5Ym1zc1LrcA?g_st=ic
Kaz price : 400 TL (2023 year’s price)

● If you’re interested in traditional, local and homemade food, I recommend this restaurant, they have a variety of different foods. (highly recommended) ✔️
LOCATION 👇🏼
https://maps.app.goo.gl/JxyzTpcSeRje4zNZ8?g_st=ic

● You can try (kelle paça çorbası) which means head and leg soup. It’s originally from KAHRAMANMARAŞ but some restaurants in Kars makes it very well, especially this one👇🏼
https://maps.app.goo.gl/WJtwNrkRDSoS6Ny4A?g_st=ic
Soup price : 70 TL (2023 year’s price)

● If you like meat, I recommend you to taste (Çağ Kebap) It’s originally from ERZURUM but some restaurants in Kars makes it very well, especially this one👇🏼
https://maps.app.goo.gl/5HMERBtwnmZoRG9B8?g_st=ic

● Turkish sweets (baklava, künefe, katmer, helva.. ect) recommended places:
1) https://maps.app.goo.gl/25BDae1qP2k5vR839?g_st=ic
2) (highly recommended) ✔️
https://maps.app.goo.gl/c9mqa4cUfLp4v1h98?g_st=ic
3) https://maps.app.goo.gl/eKLqw4vW15uyrRcy8?g_st=ic
P.S:
The 3rd one is located in an old russian building.

● Çıldır lake. (You can try horse riding on the frozen lake, and taste fresh Çıldır fish)
Horse riding: 50 TL for few minutes (2023 year’s price)
Fish meal : 150 TL (2023 year’s price)
LOCATION 👇🏼
https://maps.app.goo.gl/TRJ3kgjvfAXtBTRh8?g_st=ic

● Anı Harabeleri (in Enlish Ruins of Anı), it’s on Turkish-Armenian border. You can see there the 1st mosque built in Eastern Anatolia, and some old armenian cathedrals. Also you can see there the armenian flag and armenian villages on the border. (PAYED, cash and bank card).
LOCATION 👇🏼
https://maps.app.goo.gl/SS5dMH6TBTQEBoPE6?g_st=ic

P.S 1
Çıldır lake and Ruins of Anı are outside the city, almost 1 hour driving. But there is some tourism office organises weekly tours there. (Tour fee 400 TL in 2023).
‭To find them just write on Instagram (kars turları)

P.S 2
When you contact them, use Google Translate because they don’t speak English, also if they know that you are a foreigner, they MAY increase the price.

‼️ For any problems or safety issues, the fastest way to get help is to contact the Tourism Police. Here are their contact details:

Call ☎️ : +90 212 527 45 03
WhatsApp 📱: +90 505 187 66 14

HAVE AN UNFORGETTABLE TIME IN KARS⛄️ ❄️

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

To meet people from all over the world, hear their stories and learn from their experiences

Interests

I’m passionate about, travel, historical places, hitchhiking, running, tennis, golf, horse riding, photography, politics, documentaries, national & street food, country music, nature and much more. (If u are interested in one of them let’s meet and exchange 😀)

• architecture
• politics
• traveling
• tennis
• golf
• hitchhiking
• horse riding
• street food

Music, Movies, and Books

Music:
- Country
- Jazz
- Techno
- Pop - R&B

Movies:
- Home (Documentary)
- Social Dilemma (Documentary)
- 14 Peaks (Documentary)
- Everest (Documentary)
- Before sunset

Books:
- Islam Between East and West - Alija Izetbegovic
- Rich Dad Poor Dad - Robert Kiyosaki
- Diplomacy - Henry Kissinger
- Hegemony or Survival - Noam Chomsky

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Organising Couchsurfing weekly meetings in (Kars, Turkey)

Teach, Learn, Share

Learning:
- Culture
- Customs & traditions
- Cooking

Share:
- Experiences
- Hangout
- Ideas
- Knowledge

Teaching:
- Arabic
- French
- Turkish
- Cooking

What I Can Share with Hosts

Great time and beautiful memories.
Cook, clean, different helps..

Countries I’ve Visited

Morocco, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey

Countries I’ve Lived In

Mauritania, Turkey