New year, new adventures

Here we are at day 1 from this New Year! I'm back in Paris, the city of light, but as always there's no such thing as fireworks to celebrate this special date. I think it's the only capital in the world which doesn't offer a spectacle to its citizens and tourists.

However, like all previous years we keep having cars burnt during the first night of the year! eheh It's curious because it's usually one of the first news being presentes at the TV news! eheh
Unfortunally this year the "car fire party" was impacted by the world crisis, because there were 10 less burnt cars comparing to last year! What a shame! :-P Still, the official counter for 2009/2010 is... 1137 cars! eheheh

But there were less people on the street this year, most of them foreigners. It was curious to hear "happy new year" or "bonne année" from american, english or spanish tourists. They were the most lively. Unfortunatelly I didn't hear many french wishing the same... a little bit disapointing.

I avoided the usual places/parties in clubs, hotels or restaurants... I prefer to go out, to cross people on the street and open a bottle of champagne at midnight. As there aren't fireworks, it's the Eiffel Tower which informs everyone when midnight arrives, by blinking all the lights.

Well.. a new year has started and I wish you all the best. More adventures to come...

Feliz Ano Novo!

2009: no fireworks but with "car fires"

I welcome you all to this new year of 2009! All hopes and dreams are revived at the beginning of each new year... and they we wait 365 (or 366 days) to review the initial to-do list! eheheh

Yes, I survived cold from last night so it means I've started with the right foot so far! Most of the people prefer to stay at home or at private parties. I like to go outdoors, to see people celebrate, to cheer and to see the fireworks.

The problem in Paris is.... they don't have fireworks at midnight. When the clock reaches 12 the Eiffel tower lights up with some blinking lights. People stay along the Seine river and on the bridges just to watch these lights and open a bottle of champagne! ;-) But like I said on my previous post, I open a special bottle! eheh

It's sad to receive the new year without a small pyrotechnics show. I think they save budget for the big fireworks show for the 14th July, France's national day.
Ah, right... there's another type of "fire show", it's called "let's burn cars". Usually this happens around Paris city limits and is done by groups of people from these regions, usually immigrants from the poor and minority communities.
It's a very weird "sport", because each year the record of burnt cars is beaten! eheheh This year journalists say around 450 cars were burn in France, but the last official number is 1150! Yes, you read it right.

We have to agree this problem has its advantages: fewer cars means less polution and for the auto industry means more sales!
Who knows if in the future we'll have a special model: Auto Flambé! eheheh

Happy 2009 and keep up the spirit!

The first video of 2008

Well, in order to post something different, we've decided to post a small video we did during New Year's celebrations.

The Eiffel Tower and a bottle of champagne. It's Paris and like George Clooney says "What else?".

A bientot