Žičarom do Pierre Lotija/Gondola lift to Pierre Loti

Eyup je opština u Istanbulu koja se proteže od Zlatnog roga do Crnog mora. Eyup zapravo izgleda kao selo unutar grada, gotovo svi stanovnici su Muslimani, veoma religiozni i tradicionalni, dok žene mahom nose hidžab ili su potpuno pokrivene. 

 

U samom centru Eyupa smeštena je velelepna džamija, jedna od najlepših u Istanbulu, Eyup Sultan džamija. Oko džamije nalaze se fontane, groblje i gomila prodavnica, načičkanih po uskim prolazima. Većina ulica zapravo izgleda kao pijaca sa tezgama, a tu možete naći i restorane sa turskim specijalitetima i naravno daleko poznatim turskim doručkom. 

 

Ja sam se našla u Eyupu baš kada su dečaci bili obrezivani, pa su dolazili u džamiju obučeni kao sultani, što je naravno mom obilasku Eyupa dalo posebnu draž. 

 

Iznad Eyupa, na brdu , nalazi se prelep vidikovac i malo naselje, Pierre Loti koje je naziv dobilo po Julienu Viaudu, francuskom piscu i oficiru koji je upravo tamo pisao o svom boravku u Istanbulu. Vidikovac je veoma popularan medju turistima, što naravno, pronalazak mesta u restoranu Pierre Loti čini nemogućim. Do vrha brda se stiže ili žičarom, na koju sam ja čekala sat vremena i košta samo 2TL ili pešice, kroz groblje, a stiže se za 10-15 minuta.

 

Ukoliko odlučite da lutate ulicama Pierre Lotija, imaćete priliku da vidite male kuće, divne restorane sa živopisnim pogledom na Zlatni rog, da probate sladoled koji se umače u mrvice, kao i spiralni prženi krompir na štapiću. Nažalost, ono što je meni pokvarilo ceo doživljaj je činjenica da ste vi zapravo na groblju, ili, ako ništa drugo, tik uz tursko groblje, što turistima očigledno ne smeta. 

I naravno, ukoliko budete išli žičarom, ne zaboravite da se slikate nekoliko desetina puta, jer je okolina zaista neverovatna.

 

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Eyup is municipality in Istanbul located between Golden Horn and Black Sea. Eyup actually looks like a village inside the city, most of the inhabitants are very traditional and religious Muslims and all women wear hijab.

In the center of Eyup you can find amazing mosque, one of the most beautiful in the whole city, called Eyup Sultan Mosque. Around the mosque there are numerous fountains, cemetery and quite a number of shops in the small streets. Most of the streets look like small markets, but you can also find traditional Turkish restaurants that serve Turkish specialties and famous Turkish breakfast.

 

 I actually went to Eyup on Sunday when boys were circumcised, so they were all going to mosque dressed like sultans, which was great to see.

 

Pierre Loti is located on the hill above Eyup, named after Julien Viaud, French poet and officer who wrote his majour works there, during his stay in Istanbul. Pierre Loti is very popular among tourists, which means that it's quite impossible to find free table with a view up there. You can climb on foot to Pierre Loti, through creepy cemetery, and you're gonna need 10-15 minutes to get on the top, but you can also reach it with gondola lift (cable car) that costs only 2TL and I had to wait more than one hour to get on it.

If you decide to explore the streets of Pierre Loti, you can see small houses, cute restaurants with breathtaking view, you can taste their unusual ice-cream that you have to dip into the crumbs or spiral fried potato on a stick. Unfortunately, the thing that is ruining the impression is the fact that you are constantly on a cemetery or at least very close to it.

Little reminder: If you take the gondola lift do not forget to take dozens and dozens of pictures, it's such a nice view.

  

Enjoy your journey lifelovers and world travellers, 

Love, Ana <3

Na vrhu Istanbula / On the top of Istanbul

Kula Sapphire je ne samo hotel, shopping mall, ekološka rezidencija već I najviša zgrada Istanbula koja ima visinu 261m. Iako me shopping mall nije baš oduševio, pogled sa krova ove zgrade je definitivno nešto što ću zauvek pamtiti. Na samom vrhu se nalazi restoran, a na krovu turska zastava, koja je ujedno I najpopularnije mesto za slikanje.

Ako želite da se vinete u nebo, moraćete prvo da dodjete do poslednjeg sprata šoping mola, a odatle hvatate lift za 54.sprat. Da, 54!! Osim krovova većine zgrada u Istanbulu I biznis distrikta pod nazivom Levent, u  daljini možete da vidite I Bosforski most, a ako budete imali sreće da dodjete predveće u Sapphire, imaćete priliku da vidite kako se pale svetla I kako most menja boje. Ja sam prisustvovala I zalasku sunca I pogled je savršen!

Na krovu možete I da odete na 4D vožnju Istanbulom, koja je veoma uzbudljiva. Traje kratko, ali za to vreme zapravo vidite sve najpopularnije turističke znamenitosti I to udobno smešteni u fotelju koja leti. Cena je oko 30TL I za ulazak I za vožnju, a postoji i mogućnost doplate za organizovanu posetu muzeju. 

Odlazak na najvišu zgradu Istanbula je ono što nikako ne smete da propustite, jer je definitivno nešto što ćete pamtiti ceo život.

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Sapphire Tower is more than hotel, shopping mall and residence, it’s actually the highest building of Istanbul, 261m high. Although I wasn’t very impressed with the shopping mall, the view from the rooftop if definitely sth that I’ll remember till the end of my life. There is a restaurant on the top of this skyscraper, but on the roof you see big Turkish flag where all the visitors are taking pics.

      If you want to enjoy your view between the clouds, you can actually reach the last floor of shopping mall and then take elevator to 54^th floor. Yes, 54^th!! You can actually see roofs of the most buildings in Istanbul, business district called Levent and further is Bosphorus bridge.
 

If you are lucky enough to visit Sapphire in the late afternoon, you can see the streets light turning on and how the bridge changes colors. I was there during sunset and I have to say that the view is just ridiculously perfect!! It looks like photoshopped.

       On the rooftop, you can also go on exciting 4D ride through Istanbul. It doesn’t last very long, but during the ride you can actually see the most popular touristic destinations in you comfy armchair that flies. The price is around 30TL for entrance and ride, but there is also possibility to visit the museum.

Visiting Sapphire Tower is a MUST, you just can’t miss that, because that’s how you make memories.

Enjoy your journey lifelovers and world travellers,
Love, Ana <3