So I have this friend, an amazing friend who knows the right people in the huge city of Istanbul. She helped me out with some contacts so that I could rent a boat for some fellow Fulbrighters and myself to indulge in a New Years celebration! There ended up being 29 of us, and it was a night to remember. Sadly, it rained all day in Istanbul, and trying to coordinate all those people was a task in and of itself. Hence, getting 30 people to meet in Besiktas, in the rain, on a dock was quite the ordeal. Taking the metro from the bottom of Galata Tower to Kabatas, we walked for a good 20 minutes in the freezing rain. The walk was nice, but windy. Though I would highly recommend it for a stroll on a beautiful day- passing the palace and the waterfront, it is an excellent spot for pictures.
But, after losing a friend, finding a friend, forgetting a friend, and almost missing our boat, we finally got on the boat. It looked miniature next to the 300 person boats sailing around, but for the 30 of us, it was the perfect size. An indoor and an outdoor deck and a kitchen and bathroom underneath, it ended up being perfect for a drizzly New Years Eve night. The night began with toasts for the New Year, relishing the moments of old, and anticipating the memories to come. The night escalated into a haze of music, dancing, and pure enjoyment of the scenery surrounding us. Watching the glistening lights from both Asia and Europe, taking in the grandiose architecture that highlights the city, and relishing the perfect beauty of the moment was everything I could've asked for. We did a countdown from 20 sec and all hugged and kissed in celebration of the new year. A whole year older. Yeesh. Fireworks, sparklers, dancing, champagne and Turkish music characterized our evening.
After de-boating, we got some good early morning/late evening grub at a local place. Breakfast is always the best at 4am, isn't it? After witnessing some rather intoxicated people get buckets of freezing cold water poured on their heads, we made our way to fight for the taxis home. Still raining, we pushed, shoved, and got drenched, waiting- with every other person in the city- to catch a cab home. An hour later, we made it, still reveling in the awesomeness of the night.
With such a perfect New Years Eve, I felt this year would start off perfectly. Life has a funny way of doing that, doesn't it? I got the biggest shock of my life the next day, and have been reeling since. Hence, my blogging absence. It makes me appreciate the little moments more, revel in the present and find the beauty in those I love, always. All that being said, Happy (a little late) New Years to all my followers. May this year bring a new peace and serenity to your life while challenging you to look outside yourself and discover something brilliantly new.
But, after losing a friend, finding a friend, forgetting a friend, and almost missing our boat, we finally got on the boat. It looked miniature next to the 300 person boats sailing around, but for the 30 of us, it was the perfect size. An indoor and an outdoor deck and a kitchen and bathroom underneath, it ended up being perfect for a drizzly New Years Eve night. The night began with toasts for the New Year, relishing the moments of old, and anticipating the memories to come. The night escalated into a haze of music, dancing, and pure enjoyment of the scenery surrounding us. Watching the glistening lights from both Asia and Europe, taking in the grandiose architecture that highlights the city, and relishing the perfect beauty of the moment was everything I could've asked for. We did a countdown from 20 sec and all hugged and kissed in celebration of the new year. A whole year older. Yeesh. Fireworks, sparklers, dancing, champagne and Turkish music characterized our evening.
After de-boating, we got some good early morning/late evening grub at a local place. Breakfast is always the best at 4am, isn't it? After witnessing some rather intoxicated people get buckets of freezing cold water poured on their heads, we made our way to fight for the taxis home. Still raining, we pushed, shoved, and got drenched, waiting- with every other person in the city- to catch a cab home. An hour later, we made it, still reveling in the awesomeness of the night.
With such a perfect New Years Eve, I felt this year would start off perfectly. Life has a funny way of doing that, doesn't it? I got the biggest shock of my life the next day, and have been reeling since. Hence, my blogging absence. It makes me appreciate the little moments more, revel in the present and find the beauty in those I love, always. All that being said, Happy (a little late) New Years to all my followers. May this year bring a new peace and serenity to your life while challenging you to look outside yourself and discover something brilliantly new.
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