Happy New Year 2014!!

What a way to say farewell to 2013 and ring in the New Year 2014.  At a raucous bar in downtown Tel Aviv.  We were the first to arrive for the 1 + 1 drink deal…and ended up staying the entire night.  Jihye may have emptied their entire supply of tequila, and it was quite an adventure getting her home afterwards.  Thankfully we had all of January 1st to recover and recuperate, just like everyone else around the world.  Tel Aviv certainly knows how to celebrate New Year's Eve.
I will also add an AMAZING video of the New Year's Eve celebration from Dubai, U.A.E.  We will be there in less than three weeks, but after seeing this, we are thinking perhaps we should have gone there first.  Apparently last year Kuwait set a world record by using 70,000 fireworks in a display.  Dubai trumped them by setting off an UNBELIEVABLE 400,000 last night!!

http://youtu.be/5_Q8Ztdj0mk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SV8ZrYgpncs (Dubai New Year's Eve celebration)

Falafal and Lamb Schwarma

Had no idea the food would be so damn good here.  Craving more of these now!!

Eerie Tel Aviv

Kind of random videos, ok very random videos, but we were stunned to see an old soap factory ruins which had what sounded and looked like dozens of bats flying around inside.  (admittedly, it may well have been another winged creature, as you can see on the video, it was pretty dark.)  Immediately after that the night was pierced by cats fighting for turf.  Added a bit of weirdness to otherwise peaceful Tel Aviv.

http://youtu.be/QcqyVBW_JmM

http://youtu.be/bO8n7D2h6NA

Tel Aviv Skyline

Around Old Jaffa

Entering Old Jaffa

Prayers of Thanks

Offering prayers of thanks for their catch from the sea on this final day of 2013.

Dusk Fishing

Dusk Over Old Jaffa

Mosque

A video of the muslim call to prayer right along the coast in Tel Aviv, Israel.

http://youtu.be/S6lhP4FtRaA

Segway Riders

Several groups of riders passed us by, including one that had at least 50 people riding in a giant line.

Wall Mural

Interesting wall art along the seaside path here in Tel Aviv.

Final Sunset of 2013

New Year's Weddings

We came across at least five separate groups out taking wedding photos along the coast.

Artistic Tel Aviv

Etzel House

Final Sunset of 2013

http://youtu.be/LDKay0vEIks

Drumming in the Pipe

Surfers

It is December 31st and the sea has groups of surfers out waiting for the rare small wave to come crashing towards the shore.  Incredible.

The Beach in Tel Aviv

Stunning, gorgeous, beautiful.  We read it has 15 km of waterfront paths and jogging/bicycle lanes.  Reminded us of an exact mix of Miami and Honolulu.  Definitely that tropical and pleasant.