Happy New Year
If you celebrated NYE on the road, you can use this post to share it.
Here in Budapest, it just turned to midnight a short time ago, so I am justified in saying Happy New Year.
The snow began coming down about 6pm and continued until about 11pm. Not a heavy snowfall, but the beautiful type where the snowflakes are the size of Wheaties flakes. All told maybe 2” on the ground over the grass areas, and a thin film on walkways. Still roof tops and cars are coated and look the season.
Just before midnight we did the 3-minute walk up the street to the Opera House on Andrassy ut. To my surprise, both sides of Andrassy were full of spectators. This is one of the most beautiful intersections in town and people came out for it. Most of the people were dressed for a special evening. There was an undirected countdown and a cheer, then the Opera chorus began singing on the sidewalk. Finally, a small fireworks show from the building roof top next to the Opera.
I didn’t see or hear any drunks and there were no beer bottles crashing on the sidewalks like I have experienced in a few other cities on NYE (but to be honest that might be happening a few blocks away in District VII).
If someone wants to do a classy New Year, you join the party at the Opera House or the Budapest W Hotel across the street, or anyone of the many other private hotel and restaurant parties along Andrassy ut, and come outside for the countdown. This seems to be in the in place.
I am a miserable photographer but I posted two videos and a few photos.