this new year, like christmas, was a special one as it the first one ben and i have been able to spend together. we didn't have any plans up until the night before when ben's family invited us to join them at the swisshotel for dinner and entertainment.
it was fun to get dressed up & go to a swanky hotel. the turks did not disappoint, the women came in all kinds of interesting (both bizarre and beautiful) dresses, makeup and hairstyles. i love people watching in this country. in addition we had some unique entertainment, starting with some turkish pop stars who sang in turkish, english & spanish, as well as a belly dancer (see photo below), and finally a turkish tenor who was the main performer of the night & brought us into the 2009 with an operatic performance of 'new york, new york.' interesting.
after we had properly rung in 2009 with champagne and hugs, we left to meet up with friends at a party their friends were hosting across town. this one was in a hotel bar that had been rented out, and there was plenty of dancing going on (see bige's breakdance, below).
my new year's resolution this year is to learn turkish. as i posted before, i've started taking private lessons with a tutor, and on monday i'm starting intensive courses (mon-fri, 10-12:50pm) for the month of january at the turkish american association. the idea is the more time i'm focusing on it, the faster i can learn it. here's hoping.
happy 2009!
some pics:
ben & i lookin' fancy at the swisshotel
belly-dancin' lady
brothers
break-dancing bige and sevil
the guys
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