Let me share with you the reason why I didn't blog last week. I went to Ankara, the capital of Turkey, and visited my sister there. I also did some work and had the opportunity to chat with other friends. Actually, it's not my first time in this city, but I went up Atakule for the first time in my life!
And that was really exciting. Now in this blog I will share with you the pictures I took there.
Atakule, situated in the Çankaya district of Ankara, Turkey, is a renowned 125 m (410 feet) 125 meters tall tower that serves as a communications and observation hub. It stands as a prominent symbol and landmark within the city, easily visible from various vantage points due to its elevated location atop the Çankaya hill. Architect Ragıp Buluç conceived the design of this tower, and its construction took place from 1987 to 1989. At the pinnacle of the tower, visitors can enjoy the amenities of the Sevilla revolving restaurant, offering a panoramic 360-degree view as it completes a full rotation in one hour. Additionally, the Dome restaurant is situated above Sevilla, beneath the cupola, providing a stationary dining experience. Located below the terrace is a café named UFO. The lower sections of the tower encompass a shopping mall along with a variety of indoor and outdoor dining establishments. On 13 October 1989, Atakule was officially inaugurated by President Turgut Özal.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atakule
Visiting Atakule was an absolutely breathtaking experience for me. The tower reaches an impressive height of 125 meters (410 feet), which at first made me think that I would be afraid of heights. The more I climbed to the top, the more scared I became, honestly ahhaha. Especially the fact that the elevator has a view and you get used to it as you get higher helped a little bit.
Then we got to the top and I was relieved to see that it was very safe. The perimeter is completely surrounded by glass and really well fortified. So much so that there wasn't even a lot of wind coming in.
When I reached the outdoor terrace, my eyes were met with an astonishing panorama of Ankara's sprawling cityscape. The view seemed to stretch on forever and allowed me to see the city from a whole new perspective. When I saw how small the people were, I thought to myself how insignificant our problems are. Nothing really matters except health. I was also here for a job and maybe I was going to have a new job but I didn't want to think about that at that moment. I took a deep breath and watched the view... The viewpoint from Atakule was simply unique and allowed me to enjoy the surrounding scenery.
Even exploring the lower floors of Atakule was a pleasure. There was a lively shopping center and a wide variety of shops. Yes, I am not normally a person who likes shopping very much. Moreover, I had heard that this place was expensive, but they designed it so well and made it so spacious that you want to walk around.
Would I go again? Probably yes.
You pay 120 Turkish Lira to go up. With today's 1/20 exchange rate it is 6 dollars. I think it is not expensive. Yes, it is a bit absurd to sell a view, but the staff here are very respectful and they always guide you. Their speech, clothes and elite behavior make you feel respected.
It made me happy to see how green Ankara is. Thank you so much for reading! I hope one day you can visit this place too. I recommend it to everyone.
