December 31st...the end of the line. Tomorrow starts a new year with so many opportunities to come. Most people are reflecting on the past and vowing to do this year differently, no matter how unrealistic their goals are. Sure, we all want to lose weight and we all want to win the lottery but I won't hold my breath. I'd rather focus on goals that I have a vague chance of achieving. So what are they? To visit places I haven't been before, learn new things, make some happy memories and...maybe update this blog a little more frequently!
I always liked to go away for New Years. I figured it was auspicious to start the year on a trip. The first time I went away for New Years was when I went to the UK with my high school. They let a band of young girls loose on the streets of Edinburgh during Hogmanay; not something I would do as a chaperone but I'm glad they let us. Hogmanay is the Scottish New Years; it's origins are somewhat murky but most likely it's linked to Scotland's strong connection with the Norse people, AKA the Vikings. Starting in the late 700s, the monasteries (AKA, where all the money was) of Scotland were being plundered by the Vikings. This is your stereotypical view of Vikings; horn-helmet wearing, beard loving, axe wielding, etc. But 100 years later, they decided to make the visits more permanent. Intermarriage was common and soon Scottish and Norse cultural were intermarried as well. In fact, if you visit some of the islands to the north and west of mainland Scotland, you will definitely pick up on the Norse vibe. And with Hogmanay, you can again see the mingling of Norse and Celtic cultures. Each city or region in Scotland does stuff a little different, but in Edinburgh it's pretty much a huge street party and last three days. Needless to say, it's an experience you'll never forget. There's usually a different theme each year but typically there are processions through the streets, a fun fair complete with rides, various concerts and usually a big headliner. The year we were there, the evening started with a procession as we followed a massive inflatable monster through the streets. Pretty crazy, right? Just imagine if we were old enough to partake in some, as the Scots say, water of life! Apparently there were over 300,000 out on the streets of Edinburgh that night. There must have been big screens set up around the city because soon everyone was counting down the last seconds. Kisses were exchanged with perfect strangers, fireworks exploded and Auld Lang Syne was sung. Needless to say, it's hard to compete with something as epic as that. The video (which i hope plays) should give you a good idea of the Hogmanay vibe.
courtesy of www.christmas-party-venue.co.uk
The next New Years celebrations I took part in was two years later on another school trip to the UK. On this trip we stayed south of the Scottish border and instead were treated to a Elizabethan banquet at Hatfield House in Hertfordshire. Hatfield House is a combination of two buildings. The main part of the building is a later addition built in 1611 (I know, how modern) by the 1st Earl of Salisbury. He had built it next to the original Hatfield House which had been built in the 1400s. There isn't too much of that building left but, lucky for us, one of the parts remaining is the Banquet Hall where we got to spend our New Years. Now it's easy to scoff at a Medieval banquet and think it will be like going to Medieval Times or the local Renaissance Fair but it's not. It's fun and thanks to the authentic surroundings, it has a bit of truth to it. Sure, the actual Queen Elizabeth I probably wouldn't have gone around to each table to talk to the peasants but that was her loss. There is a four course meal and then it's dancing along to the DJ, which slightly kills the historical vibe, until the new year.
So after those New Years, it's kind of hard to compete. But regardless, it's always worth a try. Over the years, I've spent ringing in the New Year on a riverboat in Savannah, SC (not my favorite), down in the old town of St. Augustine, FL (loved it), at the beach in Ocean City, MD, Colonial Williamsburg, VA and at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, TN. And yes, it has heralded in years of traveling but truth be told, that's because I make it happen. It's kind of funny that everyone seems to build up their dreams and aspirations for this one day and about a week later, those dreams are gone. You know why (not to get all philosophical on you...)? Because if you want to accomplish something, you've gotta work for it. If making a resolution once a year was all it took then the world would be full of skinny millionaires with perfect families.
So this year, my resolution is: to see a little bit of the world, even if it's my small corner of it; make some great memories with my friends and family; and share my travels to hopefully inspire you to get out there and see the world.
