Seeing the clock strike midnight on New Year's Eve tends to be a family affair in Spain. Maybe it's because they're used to eating dinner late with their families anyway, and partying all night with friends. Whatever the reason, I'm just glad I had a family to count down with in San Sebastián. The night started off by once again, caroling at my host family's door. They must've known to expect something, because they answered the door with cameras in hand. By 9:30 we were all settled for a family dinner of salmon, oysters, and what I shall term "crumpets," with plenty of champagne to start off the festivities.We had a little extra time between dinner and midnight, so four of us played Parcheesi (I would've lost if we had finished) and Marga prepared the grapes for the magic moment. And by prepare, I mean sort out 12 grapes for each plate, and not remove the seeds. At 11:55, the seven of us huddled around the TV like I imagine most families were doing, and with the sound of every bell supposedly ate 1 grape. I say supposedly because Lila started laughing and couldn't finish; Amaya was making sure she wasn't choking; Luis was too busy taking photos; and I was surprised by the seeds and thus had a few grapes in my mouth when the chimes stopped. But they were all at least in the process of being eaten, so I consider it a success!
While other young Spaniards (including my bro and his girlfriend) continued the party in all-night events called cotilliones, I was in bed by 2 AM. Good decision for the new year.
