Buon Anno

Happy New Year Everyone!

Naples did its part to live up to its reputation as having the biggest New Year's Celebration in all of Italy, and Josh, Evan and I hunkered down with a huge hunk of parmesan, several varieties of salami, vino, champagne,milk (for Evan:)) in our hotel room to take in all of the sights (and sounds) from the comfort, and safety, of our room.

The fireworks, or should I say explosives, started going off early in the afternoon. Since huge fireworks are sold to anyone at the supermercatis, it was no surprise, that as we walked down the streets on New Years Eve Day, that firecrackers and fireworks were going off all around us. Some of these impromptu displays in the streets, could have been considered grand finales in some of the town's back in the US...they were amazing! I'm sure I made several people laugh as they dropped fireworks out of windows, and I did some of the 'oh my God, you just scared the heck out me' dances while trying to catch my breath. I should have joined some of the many dogs who were cowering with fear and shaking in the streets. You couldn't help but feel sorry for them, and wonder what the heck the dogs thought was going on?

Besides fireworks, Naples is known for the tradition of households throwing everything old out of their windows..from dishes to furniture, to go with the belief, 'out with the old, in with the new'. It sounded like it might be dangerous to be walking around on the sidewalks...wouldn't want to get beaned off the head w/ anything, so that is why we decided to stay at the hotel. In the evening hours as the countdown to midnight came upon us, impressive fireworks were closing in on us. Last year, we had watched the 4th of July fireworks from a friend's house on Lake Union in Seattle, and we were the closest we had ever been to the barge..making that show incredible to watch, as the fireworks exploded right over our heads. Well, this year, in Naples, we felt like we were ON the barge! We could see huge fireworks show from every angle...and the volume of the 'booms', sounded like concussion grenades. Josh and I took turns out on our balcony, because one of us had to be inside the room to listen for Evan in case he woke up (surprisingly he didn't...that boy can sleep through anything!)

After having seen so many amazing fireworks, we couldn't believe that they got even louder and bigger at Midnight! It sounded like were were in a bombing zone! Not many people were driving in the streets, but the 2 cars I saw go down the street behind our hotel, ended up w/ fireworks being aimed at them, and then I saw 2 mopeds go by, and the guys came together and high fived as they maneuvered the street, and swirved to avoid fireworks coming at them. Pretty daring if you ask me!

Anyways, we survived, loved the excitement of it all, enjoyed our hunk of cheese, and doubt that we'll ever see as much of a fireworks show as we saw here on New Years!