Water Pipe - Nargile

No matter what kind of storms shake this ancient city, within the smoky and fragrant confines of the KEYIFLI NARGILE Salon all is right with the world. The nargile, or Turkish water pipe, is no longer at the center of Istanbul's social and political life, but the men who gather here each day -- and the scattering of women who join them -- still consider it one of life's great pleasures. They are heirs to a centuries-old culture, and their worlds revolve around the soft sound of bubbling water, the sensation of drawing filtered tobacco smoke through long curled tubes, and an atmosphere of quiet camaraderie.
"Smoking a nargile is nothing like smoking a cigarette," an old pensioner said as he looked up from his pipe.
"Cigarettes are for nervous people, competitive people, people on the run," he said. "When you smoke a nargile, you have time to think. It teaches you patience and tolerance, and gives you an appreciation of good company. Nargile smokers have a much more balanced approach to life than cigarette smokers."
Although many of the patrons at the KEYIFLI NARGILE Salon are of a certain age, and although no one expects the stately nargile (pronounced NARG-EE-LEH) ever to regain its supremancy in the tobacco world, the water pipe culture here is in no danger of dying. Every year brings a new crop of retirees, who have the time and often the desire to spend hours in reflection. And on many evenings, students and other young people join the older clientele.

Editor Recommends: KEYIFLI NARGILE at TOPHANE... The guy, Nurettin, will prepare you wonderful flavours of Nargile...