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| 1/28/09 |
| Orient Express or The World as It Once Was |
< The Orient Express is more than just a luxury passengers train, it is a true legend. Its image is surrounded in mystery and romance, especially because of the British writer Agatha Christie. Her novel Murder on the Orient Express casted a glimp of intrigue, exoticism and charm over this train route, radically reshaping it's world renowed image.
One could not withold a subtle feeling of melancholy when thinking of travelling in this luxury coaches, watching by the train's window as unknown and strange landscapes unfold infront of your eyes. And all that while sitting and drinking your favourite cognac. The trip from Paris to Istambul must have been quite a pleasure at the beginning of the 20th century. From one part of Europe through the other, passing by Munich, Wien, Budapest, Belgrade or Bucharest. A real adventure, similar to, let's say, a wild african safari of our times. A trip of 2000 km, a true cultural experience ending in the grandiose Sirkeci Gari, the terminus station in Istambul. This route came to its end in 1977, once the modern inventions in transportation took initiative.We gain a lot but, in my humble opinion, with a lot of losses during this process. Nowdays the Orient Express, despite some hopeless attempts of reviving it, it's just a pleasant memory. The once luxurious couches are now resting in the corner of a forgotten depot. You may say this is the nature of things, they evolve and the older is updated by modern. I agree that this is the nature of things. Today we travel from Paris to Istambul in 2 hours. By comparison, the Orient Express route took two weeks to complete. That's progress. But I don't know why I have the feeling that we all miss the sensation of travelling, the mystery and the quiet sensation of peace. And all these things were found in this train trip. And also in books and other stuff that surely will disappear soon from our lives. We go fast, we think fast and we forget fast. Is that the answer?...Labels: agatha christie, belgrade, bucharest, budapest, istambul, munich, murder on the orient express, orient express, paris, sirkeci gari, wien |
posted by themur @ 4:07 AM   |
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| Sirkeci Gari - Istambul's Orient Express Gate |
 Usually Sirkeci Gari isn't at all peaceful and quiet as one might think when seeing this picture. In fact it is exactly the opposite. As all of Istambul, the city's main railway station is buzzing of people 24 hours/day. But, despite the constant bustling, it has a specific distinguished atmosphere.
Sirkeci Gari is one of those places that impresses from the first moment you see it. The traditional Turkish and European Neoclassical arhitectural styles meet into one grandiose edifice. It is surrounded into one of the most interesting lights I've ever seen, a hard light with deep crisp shadows. Therefore I vouch for the photos you will be taking inside Sirkeci Gari to be extremely vivid and quite interesting.
Sirkeci Gari is a place from the old Constantinople, a testimony of the grandeur of the once mighty Otoman Empire. Built at the end of the 19th century, it has since been the main entrance gate into the city of the Sultans.
A essential place into the history of this railway station is played by Orient Express, the legendary long-distance train route connecting Paris and Istambul. From the early 1900 till the end of the II World War, Sirkeci Gari had been the last stop of this route and became synonymous with intrigue and luxury travel.It's main hall was the venue for never ending balls. Nowdays the railway station is less radiant but it still keeps the old charm and the indefinite misteryous wisdom peculiar to once grandiose edifices.Labels: constantinople, istambul, old train stations, orient express, otoman empire, paris, railway station, sirkeci gari, sultans, turkey |
| posted by themur @ 12:19 AM |
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