Then, with 12 grapes in hand, we went to the Balcon to see in the new year. The tradition is for everyone to stand in the square watching the band until the stroke of midnight. The band stops playing and counts down the time from the clock in Madrid. This is sometimes confusing as the Church bells always ring before they do in Madrid. This year, they managed to silence the Nerja bells.
You have to eat a grape for every ring of the bell, and wash it down with cava. The square was lined with temporary bars that were selling bottles of cava for 10 Euros. Well, it is New Year's eve and its expected that you will get ripped off. So, for the third year running, I tried the 12 grapes ritual. After the 3rd bell I lost the pace so resorted to cheating by missing the swig of cava. I would drink it all after the 12 grapes were consumed. Damn! I forgot to make the wish also. I had had a few!
When the bells fall silent, there is a brief pause for everyone to say happy new year and then the fireworks start. This year we had positioned ourselves opposite the Hotel Balcon. The firework display is arranged at the end of the Balcon so we had a great view. The display was fantastic as usual. Every loud bang greeted with cheers from the crowd.
Fireworks at the Balcon.
After the firework display it was time to wash out the taste of cheap cava with more cerveza. Off we toddled to the new place, "La Fonda del Budha" on Calle Cristo. The downstairs bar was closed with only the "Bar de copas" on the first floor open. This room has a relaxed, wine bar feel to it. The place was busy with Guiris and locals enjoying the celebrations. After our second drink a couple of familiar faces from the past entered, Barbara and Margarita from Birras.
We invited them for a drink and the girls were soon chatting about old times just like the old days. The beer had even increased my powers with the Spanish language as I had a conversation with Margarita. Well, it was more Spanglish as Margarita can speak a lot more English now.
After a few more beers Monica declared it was time for dancing. Not Tutti Frutti for us but the newly opened "Temple Bar" further up the street. This is the newly reformed bar that was "Cayma" that seems to be the new place for the "Irish Harp" people.
It wouldn't be New Years eve or any night time celebration in Nerja without bumping into Joachim. He was already in the place sporting a new hat. A real vaquero!
Barbara, Margarita, Joachim y Monica.
As usual, to many beers and the memory dims. All I remember was dancing the night away and speaking with the girls in my near perfect Spanish, with a bit of Italian thrown in for good measure.
Dancing the night away at the Temple Bar.
1 comment:
Hi All. I was in Temple Bar Nerja last Friday night. Does anyone know the name of the band as there were brilliant and maybe a contact phone number for them.
Eimear
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