Buon Anni to one and all!

Happy New Year from Perugia! It's been many a year since I have stayed awake to welcome the new year at midnight. I wasn't sure I was going to do so this year either because I thought all of the other hostelers were going to go into the city (the hostel is located several miles outside of Perugia). The last bus back from the city was around 10pm so if you went to town, you were there until the morning busses started up again or you paid the huge taxi fare. Anyway, turns out there were a handful of us liking a more mellow ringing in (or had early trains the next morning) so we did a potluck dinner and snack spread, juggled a bit and played some ferocious foosball until the witching hour. The we bundled up and headed out to the back of the farmhouse. From there we had a view of the city lights and at the stroke of midnight witnessed a pretty spectacular fireworks display. The way we were situated above the city, we had an almost 180 degree view of city lights and fireworks were going off at every degree. The city sponsored a professional display but everyone else contributed their own version as well. I'm not sure how long it lasted. It went on for quite a while. Finally, there were just a few pops scattered about and we went back into the house. I faded shortly after that. I did wake sort of when the rest of the revelers came back in but have no idea what time that was and even though I'm in the mixed dorm situation, this time it didn't matter because the roommates were a) more repectful and b)speaking Italian so even if they weren't respectful, I didn't have to hear about there exploits! However, considering that they all slept soundly, I think they had as grand a time as I!