my new years was better than yours

you don't think so? 10 days in Spain, 2 new years eves celebrated in Madrid (they do a dress-rehearsal on the 30th to make sure they don't fuck it up on the big one). here is a little photo essay backing up my claim on Best New Year of 06-07.

We start with a little tour of Madrid...


Then, onto New Year's eve (the actual one)...

Yes, this guy was seriously holding two bottles of cava and shouting happy new year at the top of his lungs while this picture is being taken. Yes, he was also completely sober at the time.

They wear elaborate wigs to celebrate the holidays, it's really weird.

There was much dancing and "saluding" going on.

So at midnight in Madrid, its a lot like midnight in the states. Everyone who is not in the middle of the city is at home watching on TV. And there is a clock. And there is a dropping ball. And there are shitloads of people. Since we had already done it the night before, we decided to attend a house party. ANYWAYS, they [Spaniards, and Italians too maybe] do this one thing different, and I gotta say, it too is weird. Instead of kissing--which is a pretty awesome custom since its the only way most of us will ever kiss random hot people--they eat twelve grapes. One grape for each ring of the church bell when the clock strives twelve. So ANYWAYS we decided to teach them a thing or two about kissing.

This young lady was having none of this demonstration.

Or maybe she just didn't like her options before. I mean this guy may be better looking, but only just barely, right?
Turns out that "hotter" gay was gay. Or something, it was hard to tell. Maybe it was his "Italian"-ness.
Speaking of Italian, he apparently had heard of the Sopranos. God Bless HBO.

Las chicas guapas! So anyways, you get the point, great party.


Now, onto the Granada and the Alhambra. Without hyperbole (or at least without much), I can say it the single most amazing impressive man-made thing I have ever seen in my life.*

* This is not saying much. Although I did just see the Biltmore estate this past Thanksgiving. That was neat. But too new to count in same category as this.

For more on the Alhambra, try here.

This Cyprus tree (below) is 700 years old. Respect.Also note, these fountains in the Generalife. Being a nerd, I made my travel companions have a seat with me in this incredible garden and brainstorm ways that they made this shit happen without pumps and whatnot way back in the 13th century. The solution: physics.* And without calculators. Damn

* Read: still no clue, and mad at myself for killing those particular brain cells from 11th grade.

Moving right along, here below are some ruins of an old Nazrid dynasty, circa, a long long time ago. In the background, a Catholic church (San Francisco's, I believe) built on the site of a Muslim masque that they leveled when they conqured the Alhmbra in 1492. Yep, the very same people who brough you Columbus. Thank you Ferdinand and Isabella.

And now some shots from the Alhambra, which sits atop a big hill.

(above...) In the side of the hill across the valley you can see caves which were inhabited (are?) by the Roma people (popularly known as Gypsies)

El Albaicin, the old Moorish quarter, really cool. Look in the upper-right region of this pic and spot a white church (with tall white bell tower). There is a wall underneath this church that you can [sorta] make out in the photo. Remember this wall.

Alhambra at dusk, taken from aforementioned wall.
Sunset from said wall.
Picture of these nice gringo tourists, also enjoying sunset on the wall next to me.

And I will close with this, "Nice fountains, Granada."

So, you think you had a better New Years than me? I don't think so.
Prove it.