Happy New Year!

This New Year celebration was by far the most different celebration we have had.  I have celebrated New Years in Georgia, Texas, driving from GA to VA, in El Salvador and in India.  Each New Year brings it's own excitement and adventure.  I am not quite sure where this New Year's celebration fell amongst the other New Year celebrations.  It was new and different but also a little of a let down.

Andrew and I went downtown for a late dinner at our favorite restaurant (also where one of Andrew's friends works so it is a good place for us to go).  We enjoyed a relaxed dinner and then made our way to where we were told a lot of local people celebrate the New Year.  There is an old castle ruin in our city, and our language helper told us that a lot of people go down there for the New Year.  She said that they count down and then it is a good place to watch fireworks from.

We made our way down to the old castle.  It was incredibly crowded right around the castle area, so we moved a little bit away down along the beach boardwalk.  There were so many people out.  Families were gathered together on the beach, drinking tea and coffee, smoking argeela and even some people singing and playing drums.  It was fun to just sit and watch everyone enjoying themselves.

According to our watches, the New Year was approaching.  About a minute before we thought should be the New Year, close to where we were, about five fire works went off.  There was no counting, no one even did anything different.  Just the few fire works that went off near us.  We could look out across the water and see the fire works of the neighboring country.  We were able to see many fire work shows along their coast line going off.

After a minute or two of watching their fireworks go off, we decided to head back up to the road and catch a taxi.  Thankfully we found one easily and except for the minor traffic jam on the way home, made it home easily.  It was neat to see yet another culture celebrate the New Year.  There was no kissing at the stroke of midnight.  No one played "Auld Lang Syne."  And as Andrew is quite sad about, there will be no Football games on the TV today.  Oh the excitements of what a New Year will bring!