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 

Hajmo u Bebek! / Let’s go to Bebek!

Bio je vreo dan I pomislila sam da bi bilo baš lepo da ga provedem pored mora. Zato sam se zaputila u Bebek. Nije bio ni nalik onome sto su mi pričali. I zaista sam se oduševila.

 

Istina je da je Bebek mesto za starosedeoce sa dubljim džepom. Turiste nisam sretala, ulice su bile poprilično prazne. Bebek je prosto mesto gde možete da pronadjete svoj mir. Ušuškane taverne pored vode, riblji restorani koji podsećaju na Grčku, jahte i čamci koji se lagano ljuljuškaju na vodi i poneki lokalci koji trče pored mora. Kuće koje se bele na brdaščima pored vode su me potpuno oborile sa nogu. A tu je i Starbaks na najlepšim pogledom u celom Istanbulu. Vidite samo plavetnilo, jahte, turističke brodove, koji tu ne pristaju i poneki ribarski čamac. 

 

Bebek je odlično mesto za porodice sa decom, za duge šetnje i večere pored mora. Nažalost, u turističkim ponudama nema izleta u Bebek, niti organizovanih obilazaka, što ga čini poprilično odsečenim od turista, iako se nalazi na pola sata od centra. Ukoliko odlučite da večerate u nekom od restorana pored vode, imaćete priliku da uživate u pogledu na blještavi Bosforski most i Azijski deo Istanbula.

 

Bebek se uveče pretvara u idealno mesto za izlazak, a na samom ulazu u Bebek nalaze se brojni klubovi: Sortie, Reina i mnogi drugi. Zapazićete da Bebekom u večernjim satima prolaze samo najskuplji motori i automobili, uglavnom oni sa leptir vratima- prilično fascinantan vozni park. 

 

Bebek na turskom znači ,,beba“, a očigledno je da ga Turci baš tako i čuvaju, kao bebu. 

 

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It was very hot outside, so i decided that it would be great if I spend my day near the sea. That’s why I decided to go to Bebek. It actually was much better than I thought. I was really amazed by that place. 

 

It's quite true that Bebek is part of the city for higher society. I haven't seen any tourists there and streets were quite empty. Bebek is actually a place where you can find your peace. Plenty of tavernas near the sea, fish restaurants like those in Greece, jachts and small boats floating on the sea and just few local habitants who go running near the sea. The white houses on the hills totally blew my mind. And Starbucks ofc with the best view in the whole Istanbul. When you sit on the teracce you are able to see just blue sea, blue sky and some fishermen's boats and jatchs.  

Bebek is perfect place for families with children, long walks and dinners near the sea. Unfortunately, you cannot find any offers for excursions to Bebek in touristic agencies and no organized tours which is the reason why Bebek is not that touristic. If you decide to have a dinner in some of the restaurants near the water, you are gonna have chance to enjoy the view on a shinny Bosphorus bridge and sparkling Asian part of Istanbul.

 

 At night, Bebek is perfect place for going out. On the entrance of Bebek you can find the most popular clubs in Istanbul: Sortie, Reina etc. And you are def gonna pay attention to luxurious motorbikes and cars, with butterfly doors... quite fascinating.

 

Bebek means baby in Turkish, and that is exactly the way how Turkish people take care of this place, they keep it like a baby.

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

Šetnja Galata mostom/ Walking to Galata

Sa leve strane se pruža pogled na Sultanahmet, a sa desne strane na Novu džamiju, Egipatsku pijacu začina I turističke brodove. Most Galata je pravi grad u malom. Mene je zapravo fascinirao broj restorana i kafića. Ukoliko budete išli preko mosta sa gornje strane, naći ćete se medju mnogobrojnim ribarima, prodavcima djevreka i ljudima koji vam na roštilju za par sekundi  spreme ribu koja je tek ulovljena, a tu je i savršen pogled na more i grad. Medjutim, ako ipad odlučite da sidjete stepenicama na donju stranu mosta i budete bliže moru, budite spremni na to na će vas uporni konobari vući za rukav i moliti da probate riblje specialitete baš u ribljem restoranu.  
 

Kada dodjete do kraja mosta shvatićete koliko je na Eminonu uvek živo, možda ćak i previše živo za moj ukus. Odatle polazi veliki broj autobusa i brodova, a nalazi se i par stanica tramvaja... 

 

Sa suprotne strane mosta se nalazi Galata kula. U prošlosti je to zapravo bila osmatračnica, a ako odlučite da idete na vrh odatle će vam se pružiti neverovatan pogled na mostove, more i stari deo grada, sve krovove restorana i neodoljivih kafića u kraju. Osetićete se kao da ste na vrhu sveta. U Istanbulu je sve u tome kakav pogled imate!! 

 

Sve uličice oko same kule su strme, kaldrmisane, a govoto svaki objekat je minijaturan. Kafići na platou ispred ulaza u kulu su takodje minijaturni, podsećaju na one koje vidjamo u Parizu I Amsterdamu sa samo par stolova, a sve stolice su okrenute prema ulici. Jedine dve stvari koje mi se nisu svidele su čekanje u redu na ulazak u Galatu- to mi je oduzelo oko sat vremena, ali moglo je da bude i mnogo gore, kao i cena- ulazak iznosi 24TL.

 

Ukoliko ka Galata kuli idete iz pravca centra, ići ćete od Istiklala jednom strmom kaldrmisanom ulicom nizbrdo. Ona je načičkana dućanima od par kvadratnih metara koji prodaju voće, cedjenu pomorandžu, kriške ananasa na štapiću i kafu za poneti. Sama šetnja oko Galate je pravi doživljaj.

 

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On the left side you can see Sultanahmet district and on the right side New mosque, Egiptian Spice Bazar and touristic boats. Galata bridge is quite like a small town. I was fascinated by the number of caffes and restaurants. If you decide to take the upper side of the bridge, you are going to walk among fishermen, simit sellers and people who are able to make you fish tost on a barbeque in just a few sec. And you are also gonna have amazing view. If you decide to take the stairs down the bridge to get closer to the sea, be ready to get annoyed by very persistant waiters who are gonna pull you to visit their restaurant to try on their fish specialities. 

 

When you reach the other side, you are gonna realise how crowded Eminonu is maybe,  too lively for my taste. It's a huge stop for most of buses, boats and trams. 

Galata Tower is located on the opposite side of the bridge. It was actually a watchtower but if you decide to climb on the top of it, you will be able to have the most amazing view on boats, sea, older part of the town, all the roof tops of restaurants and adorable coffee shops in the neighbourhood.

 

All the streets around the Tower are pretty steep, cobble, old and every possible shop there looks like it was made for elves. Caffes located in front of the entrance of Galata Tower are small, you feel like you are in Paris or Amsterdam with just a few tables and all the chairs are looking at the Galata. I didn't like waiting in a line on the entrance, because it can pretty much take half of your day and the price- it's 24TL to get to the top.

 

If you want to get to Galata Tower from the center, you can follow one narrow steep street from Istiklal that goes down. There are a lot of shops there selling fruit, fresh orange juice, slices of ananas on a stick, watermelons and coffee to go. Walking around Galata is such an adventure.

 

 Enjoy your journey lifelovers and world travellers, 

Love, Ana <3

Oaze mira, parkovi Istanbula/ Parks in Istanbul, oasis of peace

Zelenilo, tišina, staze za trčanje, ogradjena igrališta za pse sa jedne i za decu, sa druge strane, fontane i raznobojno cveće je sve ono što čini Maçka park jednom od najlepših mirnih luka u Istanbulu. Nalazi se na 15 minuta hoda od Taksima i 5 minuta od Dolmabahçe palate. 
 

Ovaj park predstavlja pravu malu šumu nasred centra i moje je omiljeno mesto za trčanje. Unutar parka postoji i teretana na otvorenom, kao i par restorana u kojima je ulazak ljubimcima, naravno, dozvoljen. Neizbežno je da ćete se sresti sa šetačima pasa i brojnim mačkama koje slobodno šetaju. U jednom delu je napravljeno igralište za pse sa penjalicama, ljuljaškama i igračkama namenjenim samo najvernijim čovekovim prijateljima.

 

Za vreme vikenda, ljudi iz svih delova grada dolaze ovde na piknik. Park ima idealan pogled jer se nalazi na brdu i jedan je od najlepše sredjenih parkova koje sam videla. Na ulazu se nalaze kućice za pse čuvare tih uz obezbedjenje. Zaista, prava mala oaza mira usred ove metropole.

 

Ukoliko krenete od Dolmabahçe palate prema Ortaköy-u, naići ćete na Yıldız park  koji je veoma popularan medju mladima i idealno mesto za venčanja. Vikendom se iza svakog drugog drveta kriju mlada i mladoženja koji su došli da se fotografišu. Blicevi sevaju na sve strane. 

 

Ono što je mene najviše fasciniralo je veštačko jezero sa kornjačama, patkama, mostićem i veoma ušuškanim i porodičnim ostrvcem za ručak. Pored potoka koji prolazi kroz park videla sam ljude koji igraju uz kubansku muziku, na drugom kraju parka svira se gitara, deca bacaju loptu i bumerang, psi trče, a na samom početku će vas dočekati statue kengura, slona,pregršt cveća i poneka klupa. Idealno mesto ukoliko tražite hlad po vrelom sunčanom danu u Istanbulu.

 

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Forest, peace, running path, playgrounds for dogs, on one side and swings for kids, on the other side, fountains and a lot of colorful flowers are stuff that make Maçka park one of the most popular places in nature in Istanbul where you can find your piece. It's located 15 min walk from Taksim Square and 5 min walk from Dolmabahçe Palace.

 

This park is actually a little forest in the centre and also my fav place for running. There is also a small open air gym inside the park and some pet friendly restaurants. You are definitely gonna notice many dog walkers there and also many cats tanning on bench. This place is heaven for pets because they made a playground with all the toys for them.  

 

During weekend, people from all parts of Istanbul go to Maçka park to make picnic. Park also has amazing view, because it's actually located on the hill and if you ask me i would say: It's one the best designed parks ever!! On the entrance, just near the security, they also built houses for dogs.

 

If you walk from Dolmabahçe Palace to Ortaköy, on the left side you're gonna see another park. Yıldız park  is very popular among youth and ideal place for weddings. I saw many photographers taking pictures of brides and grooms.Flash after flash!!

 

The most fascinating thing is small lake with turtles, ducks, small bridge and cozy family place for lunch. I saw people dancing, listening Cuban music, playing guitar, kids running everywhere and dogs catching the ball and on the beginning you can get warm welcome by statues of kangaroos, elephants and people sitting among flowers. It's truly outstanding place if you want to find some shade on a sunny day in Istanbul.

 

Enjoy your journey lifelovers and world travellers, 

Love, Ana <3