Año Nuevo

We started the party around 8pm at Lisi´s house, having some drinks with friends



Lisi´s housemate, Alberto, brought out his airgun and we all shot some blanks--including this 12 year old neighbor kid.



Then we went to a mirador (lookout) to watch the fireworks and drink some more



You can´t really tell, but I actually am in this photo



After the fireworks and a few more drinks at Lisi´s, we went down to the Plan. Everyone was there drinking with their friends in the streets.



Even old ladies were out on the town



There were at least two stages built in the plazas and everyone danced to the live music all night. (you can kind of see the stage over my head)



Wigs, confetti, and party poppers were sold in the streets everywhere



Another view of the stage and the crowd. Everyone was there--preppies, punks (some sleeping in a big pile in the middle of the street, other dancing cumbia!), teenagers, parents...the whole city celebrated and drank together and no one fought or caused trouble (much to the amazement of René, who said that in England such a peaceful large-scale party would be impossible).



In the middle of this fiesta, the naval guards still had to maintain their vigil in front of this monument.



I went to bed at 6:30 and the band was still playing. All along my street, people were drinking and talking. Stopped for a view of the sunrise a block away from the apartment and realized what a great start this was to 2008.

The next day, absolutely everything in the city was closed. We walked around for a little while--surprisingly little mess remained from the night before--and didn´t see a single business with open doors. Good thing I made a lasagne the day before!

The stage was still in place, however