On New Year's Eve we decided to go to one of the fancy areas of town because we heard there were some fun events for kids. We packed a picnic (so as not to have to buy expensive dinner in expensive outdoor mall).
We read something about balloons, and weren't sure what to expect.
This is what we found:
These were not just balloons. These were large, paper, gas-filled balloons, being set off into the sky by amateurs (anyone who wanted to buy one).
It was fairly windy, enough to catch the balloons as they rose into the sky, but there were strays. Thanks to a quick-acting stranger a stray fire balloon barely skimmed Michael's head as it tried to take off. As we walked through the throngs of people, we were literally dodging floating balloons.
It was unorganized chaos. There were people everywhere, lighting balloons in little huddled groups, holding the fire-filled balloons as they tried to rise into the night sky. We felt a little better when we saw the firemen walking around carrying extinguishers, which was good, because we passed one fireball burning in a tree and one in the grass.
It was also beautiful to watch. (We tried not to think about where these balloons would end up. On a roof? Someone's yard?)The idea was that you were sending off your New Year's wishes up with the balloons.
There was a kids show later, full of Disney characters old and new (Peter Pan and Aladdin made an appearance), and some presents and a snow machine, and the theme of what is Christmas really all about? (Answer: love and friendship).
We went home and put the kids to bed. I tried to stay up until midnight, but I couldn't. I knew it would be somewhat fruitless to go to bed less than an hour before midnight, only to be woken up by the storm of fireworks that hits the City at 12. Sure enough, they woke me up. Fireworks at midnight. Celebrating the New Year is so different with kids and no party to go to.
Happy New Year from Guatemala!
Happy New Year from Guatemala!
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