I’M BACKKKKK… Did you miss me? I’m sure you did… Hell even I missed me!!! Ja just kidding, but yup I’m back and more pumped than ever to share my life with the world. If you were wondering where I went… I let ya know in my last post I was gonna take a week or two off to enjoy my time here in Turkey. The last few days have been A-FUCKING-MAZING. I have had so much fun & have so much to share that I have no clue where to even start. I guess I will start with how I spent my New Years. As you all may know I was not going to be spending it alone… My girls from Barcelona were going to meet me here to ring in the New Year together. Sadly one of them couldn’t make it and she was missed, but the rest of us had a blast. After picking them up from our meeting point settling in at the hostel and getting ready to party… this is how our night went!!!
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We made our way to Istiklal Avenue just around the corner from our hostel. One of the most famous avenues in Istanbul, Turkey, visited by nearly 3 million people in a single day. New Years was no exception… it was a cold rainy day, but that didn’t stop anyone from coming out.
EEEEeeeeeeeee Meri, Laura & I as we are walking through Istiklal Ave. We seriously couldn’t believe that we were together in ISTANBUL… just fucking crazy how we met in Morocco, hung out in Barcelona and now in Istanbul.
We got lost in the back streets of the Avenue as we tried to find something to eat. It was already 10pm so we wanted to hurry and get some thing fast to start drinking and make it to Taksim Square to watch the fireworks.
In the end we walked into a hole in the wall and had a Chicken Durum Kepab… it wasn’t the best, but it did it’s job!!!
We than walked into a random bar and got our drinking on!!! The 1st drinks of the night…
View from the random bar we walked in…
After the drink we made our way to Taksim Square to count down with everyone & ring in the new year. It was crazy jam packed with so many people. I couldn’t believe it & was filled with joy!!! Sadly because of the rain the fireworks were cancelled. It was still nice to ring it in with so many people.
We came prepared by buying grapes earlier in the day to make sure we each had 12 grapes to eat. It’s both a Mexican and Spanish tradition to eat 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight. You make a wish for each grape you eat… the 12 grapes reflect the 12 months of the year.
After the stroke of midnight and a short search we found a 5 story club to kick the partying off.
CHEERS TO THE FREAKING NEW YEARS!!!
Turkish people sure do know how to party… we were having a blast dancing the night away.
Yup more drinking…
Celebrations inside the club were high… everyone was just having a blast!!!
It was already past 3am and we were barely getting started… we did a bit of club hopping when we ended up in ZARIFE… the club pictured above.
The club was packed and the music was amazing… we were having the time of our live’s!!!
SHOTS… SHOTS… & MORE SHOTS!!!
I love TEQUILA… but it makes me make this face when I take a SHOT…lol!!!
I know HOT huh…?
I have a horrible habit of being buzzed and then buying everyone shots… lol!!! Yeah tese weren’t cheap, but worth it. I had to have some TEQUILA tonight… it had been a while!!!
I love the world it is amazing & I love these girls. They have become a part of my life…
Las amo un chingo… carbonas!!!
Oopps more drinks… this time we didn’t buy them though. A Turkish guy we met invited us to these. Moments later around 5am they closed the bar. We were ready to call it a night even though many other clubs were still going full steam. We were exhausted we were all on only a few hours of sleep.
Since we didn’t finish all our drinks at the bar… we managed to sneak a glass out and kept drinking on the street. Ahh look at the guy in the middle… isn’t he fucking HOT??? I’m telling you TURKISH MEN ARE BEAUTIFUL!!! Oh & this was taken infront of a group of cops.
Even though we were ready to call it a night… the Turkish guy who invited us to the last beer wasn’t. He invited us to some Turkish delights. We sobered up quickly with some Turkish Coffee and some…
Turkish baklava… if you have never had either… you are missing out. It’s amazing… & so damn good!!!
After all that we finally managed to get our semi drunk/sober selfs to the hostel.
It was 6:56am when we finally got in bed.
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As I mentioned before… 2011 was no doubt the best year of my life… I know crazy right, but it really was. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to end it and ring in 2012! I spent it with some amazing friends, in an amazing city having the time of my life. I know 2012 is going to be just as amazing if not better. I’m sitting here in my hostel in Istanbul after a 13 hour bus ride from Cappadocia drinking some Turkish Tea with a huge smile on my face. I can’t stop smiling and thinking about how blessed I am to be able to do this. I know I am the one that made it happen, but ahhh I just can’t help but be thankful. The world is amazing and I am glad I am getting to know it. Even if it’s just a small portion. I will be spending the next few days in Istanbul catching up on blog and enjoying some down time. I serioulsy can’t wait to share what all I have been up to with y’all. I am in love with Turkey… it has blown me away. The last 10 days have been amazing, intense & I know I need this mini break before I head to Cairo, Egypt on Monday.
Enough about me and my New Year… I wanna know all about yours (but do tell me what you think of mine…lol). How did you celebrate yours? I shared 24 photos from my New Years… now I want to see yours too! Post your favorite photo from New Years on my Facebook Fanpage for everyone to see!!! Anyone can post a photo… you don’t have to have a blog to share.
Oh & in case you were wondering what my New Years Resolution is it is:
“To continue living life on my terms and just being happy.”
I love your new year’s resolution Jaime – I think more people need to make this a priority! Istanbul also looks like a great place to party – and I love your Tequila face!
Monica recently posted..Hong Kong’s Peak
Thanks Monica, I know I wish more people would make that a priority. So many need it… it’s not about travel it’s about being happy!!!! As for Istanbul oh it’s a great place to party… love it!!!
I’m going to Istanbul 28/12/12 for 6 days with my son and mother..I have some doubts really,as seems the party may be costy…Now i’m ready for adventures! thank you
And….Shall i book any cruises or will find cheaper on the cost?:)
I’m going to Istanbul 28/12/12 for 6 days with my son and mother..I have some doubts really,as seems the party may be costy…Now i’m ready for adventures! thank you
And….Shall i book any cruises or will find cheaper on the coast?:)
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Sounds like you had a fun one! 🙂
Lauren recently posted..A Broken Key and a Grope in Hong Kong
Thanks Lauren… I had a great one! Hope you did too~
AWESOME!!! 🙂
Jorge recently posted..Hola Bola!
Thanks Jorge!
WOW!! Jaime, you know how to party! I wish I could put my hand through the screen and share in some of that baklava. Happy New Year!
Patricia GW recently posted..New York City Public Library
Oh yes Pat I know how to party… and Istanbul is a perfect place to party!!! Oh & yes the baklava I would share with everyone…
Hope you had a Happy New Year!!!
I’m glad you had such a great New Year! The grapes photo reminds me, if I am still in Dahab when you get here I can take you to a place near my apartment where we can smoke some incredibly delicious grapes shisha. I’ve only smoked shisha thrice in my life, but the grapes was far and away the best. 🙂
Thanks Sabina… hope you did too!!! Ahh I too have only tried it Thrice and agree grape is the best flavor… I’m not a huge fan of Shisha, but do enjoy it every once in a while. See you soon~
You look like you had so much fun, what a way to kick off the year.
Ayngelina recently posted..Turin makes me smile
Thanks Ayngelina, I had a blast… Hope you had a good New Year too.
Dude… I got a headache just looking at all of that booze. Love your resolution!
Kent @ No Vacation Required recently posted..5 Travel Deals / Trends We Want More of in 2012
Thank god Kent this time I didn’t get a headache from drinking everything I drank… lol!!!
Ahh I love my resolution too~
I’m glad you had so much fun for NYE!! I’m looking forward to reading about the rest of your time in Turkey. Andy and I are planning on going there in the spring for our honeymoon, so I love reading about Turkey right now. We celebrated NYE in Dunedin, New Zealand, which was a bit cold but lots of fun!
Ali recently posted..Twists and Turns and Too Many Temples
Thanks Ali… oh I can’t wait to write about the rest of my adventures in Turkey. They are going to be great! Istanbul and Turkey will be a great place for your honeymoon…. this country has rocked my socks of!!! You will love it… it’s clean, the people are nice, the food is so good.
I guess we both had a cold New Year this year with lots of fun!!!
Wow! Sounds amazing! I will definitely take your advice when I’m in Istanbul. You are such an inspiration!
Thanks Rubi… oh I have so much to share… I will let ya know everything before you get here so you can make the most of it!
Hope to visit Istanbul this year myself. Solid effort on the drinking/partying front. Most impressed! Didnt know about the grape thing, very interesting.
Cool post!
Neil recently posted..Paradise football pitch – Vorovoro, Fiji (Tribewanted)
Neil you are going to love it! Yeah I think I did good on the drinking front… glad I kept my composure the whole time… & yeah the grape thing is a tradition I like cus it;s not to hard to keep…lol!!!
Looking hot drinking tequila! Hehe:) I never visited Istanbul but I feel really stupid… there’s a direct flight from my city and still didn’t go. Looks like an amazing city!
So is it allowed to drink in the streets? 😮
Anyway, looks like you had a great NYE and I wish you to keep having the life you want!
Big hug:)
Giulia recently posted..Resolutions? Nah. Just looking back at a great travel blogging year!
I know such a beautiful face…lol!!! Oh you should Giulia, one of the most amazing cities I have ever visited. I just love it. As for drinking in the streets I have no clue… but the cops didn’t say anything…lol!!!
Bigger hug at ya!!!
I thought it is warmer in Istanbul during NY 🙂
Vi recently posted..Light daypack/backpack. Travel essentials
No it’s so damn cold… like freezing cold Vi!
Love this! I was so ill in Istanbul when I visited in 1999, that my family left early to get me home. I must go back!
Erik recently posted..Photo of the Day- St. Luke’s Anglican Church, Richmond, Tasmania, Australia
Thanks Erik… yes ou must go back. This place is amazing!
What a splendid way to spend your new years in Turkey. Simply outstanding! The next new years eve im definitely going for a flight to Istanbul with my family along. New years in Turkey; it will surely be a dream come true.
Thanks Mark! I hope you do get to spend it here… it’s amazing!
Hey Jaime, not sure if you remember me from way back when in Houston. Remember we worked at AMC together and played softball together? I just came across your blog on FB and wanted to tell you that your experiences sound amazing and it sounds like you are having a blast on your trip. I knew you were traveling but geez you’re really seeing the world! Thought you should know that you are really inspring and I wish I could be more like you…anyways…just wanted to send some love your way from back home. Safe travels 😉
Hello Alex… of course I remember you. You made me laugh with that comment! Thank you so much for the kind words seriously. I’m glad I am inspiring people to follow their dreams and be happy. I hope you are doing just that. If you need help ya k now I am here for ya!!! Thanks again… I got the love and am sending some to you too~
I like the thing about the grapes. I did NYE in Madrid one year. They sold little cans in the store of 12 grapes without skin so you could eat them fast enough. I also remember the guy on the TV explaining over and over to not start eating until the first gong of the clock, not just at midnight or you run out of grapes. This through my poor spanish. 🙂
Happy New Year!
Andrew recently posted..Traveling with Money
Yeah the girls were telling me that there they sale them like that. I thought wow that is so damn smart… cus yeah it was hard to eat 12 grapes fast that have skin and seed…
I am coming to Istanbul 28.12.12 for 6 days…Also believed that it is warm in there:)…Thanks,Jaime..great idea for New Y’adventures..I will follow,but there are my mother and son with me.Do you recommend to book a place by the coast of Bosphore?
Hi Natalya, you are gonna have a grand time. Be sure to pack a jacket… it’s cold there around this time.
If you only have 6 days I would recommend book something near Taksim Sq. or Sultanameth. Those are the two most popular areas of the city & from there you will be able to walk to all the main tourist attractions. Let me know if you need anything else.