December 31 to January 1, 2002

Naples, Italy

A New Year's Surprise!
Unexpectedly a great time!.

I didn't think Naples had any celebration worth staying for until I saw it for myself. In Piazza Plebiscito they had a concert celebration with an Italian hip hop artist and great performances. When we arrived into the square I was uncertain what the night would turn out like. At 11:30 the square was a quarter full and it seemed as if there was going to be nobody in the square at countdown. But, within the time of 20 minutes the large square was completely packed just in time. Following the countdown there were performances with people gravitating inside sphere balls, fire dancing on floats, dancers dressed up in elevated stilts, and performers/singers flying on drawcords connect between the buildings. Additionally, there were surprising little celebrations within the crowds of people with champagne flying all over and random fireworks exploding sometimes at right behind your leg.

The tradition in Italy, but especially in Naples, is to throw anything you don't need out the window, so walking the streets is not an option. The deathly fireworks vibrated your chest from thousands of feet away. Neapolitans are completely wild and crazy people that know how to have a good old time. There isn't any overpowering militant figure such as the police that enforce any overprotecting laws, as in the US, they can actually ruin the pure fun of a traditional celebration. As bottles of champagne flew over the crowds of people landing in random destinations, some filled with exploding fireworks, the polizia celebrated in their own fashion. Watching how much corruption takes place within the city makes Naples absolutely the best to place to visit because afterwards you will feel like a robot working in a structure world where everything has to run on a scheduled track to a certain destination. In Naples, life and family is more important than any social or economic status.

After the city sponsored fireworks displayed in Piazza Plebiscito, there was a 'till dawn dance party' near the port of Stazione Marittima, where thousands of local Italians flooded of all ages to dance to recent house music and of coarse traditional Italian music. I don't understand how the majority does it, they don't really drink much alcohol. Just pure adrenaline and craziness fuel these people. It must be the red wine and olive oil.

During the later portion of the dance party out on the port, I was feeling dehydrated so I decided to get some water. While doing so, the music started skipping and you look up on stage and somebody is in a brawl with the DJ and his production company. The music completely stops so the Neapolitans get mad and start chucking champagne bottles at the DJ set, stage and lights. Then of coarse the polizia drops tins of tear gas into the party and everyone starts running like it was a riot and was it crazy!

Click on the "New Years 2002 Napoli" link above or scroll down the page to view pictures of New Year's in Naples.