italiafile

I can't begin to describe New Year in Naples. i was here 2 years ago and was shocked, tonight I was plain scared. For anyone who has lived in a war zone, Naples is the same on new years eve. The huge home made mortars (the Bin Laden as it is called) shake buildings when they explode. They are meant to be detonated 100 metres from people and buildings. Here they are put on the landing outside the front door and a match thrown. The noise is deafening. At midnight 40 mintutes of earsplitting bangs ensured, from all directions. Here the sound is more important than the visual spectacle. It's still going on and will do so all night. The comune might have cancelled the official display but the Neapolitans cant managed a new year without a vast array of bangs. Guns which are usually hidden are displayed and fired in the street, and here in hte Quartieri the old tradition of throwing things out at midnight to make a clean start in the new Year is carried on. On the stroke of midnight, with fireworks, guns and champagne corks, a hail of bin liners flew from balconies into the street filled with clothes, bottles, and broken electrical items. For a simple Yorkshireman it's a bit of a shock.
Now I must get my glad rags on and sallie forth to dance the night away in freezing temperatures. It might be rather sedate dancing.. I rarely boogie in jumper, scarf, fleece nad heavy winter coat.. but thats my party togs for tonight.