Michelle Obama, 2016.

How high should we go? I want to put my head in the clouds, and did exactly that yesterday.

The Skytree in Tokyo is the tallest tower in the world at 634 metres ( 2,030 feet) and a must see on a visit to Tokyo. Opened in 2021 at a cost of 600 million dollars it is primarily a broadcasting tower but doubles as a tourist observation tower and making, I estimate, a million dollars a day from its 17,000 people daily attendance.

It is time to open one in Istanbul. How amazing would that be?

The suspense builds as you enter a dimly lit lift and with the doors softly shut behind you get catapulted upwards at rocket engine speed. 13 seconds to the first observation level at 350 m. Then for the ultra brave you transition to a further lift, but this time glass fronted ( you have to be joking!) to propel you a further 100 metres to the second observation level. Pictures taken here are taken at a healthy distance from the floor to ceiling glass.

On a good day you can see for a distance of 100 km and see snow capped Mount Fuji , but better on a cloudy day to go up at night time. The views breathtaking once someone hit that light switch to illuminated the apartments and offices of the 37 million residents. I’m the person interested in the logistics, who cleans the windows of the tower and what is Tokyo’s electricity bill?

On the way down the last thrill to walk along a glass floored walkway at 350m. Easy after a beautiful glass of American Napa Cabernet at the very top. Michelle for President!