Best New Year Celebration Ever.

Marbella-New Year 2004, Spain

My friend’s sister lived in Marbella. She met a Spanish man and got married there, she left her home in UK to be with her loving husband and she sell vegetables in the market there. I can see in her eyes, she is a very happy woman. We got to Marbella from London, transited in Frankfurt and landed in Malaga, which is the nearest airport to Marbella. The taxi drive took about an hour and the half I think, I forgot. It was on the 30th December 2003. I was so excited each time I touch down in an Andalusian land, we past by Torremolinos and the taxi we took drive along the coast way of Costa Del Sol. The reason we were there to celebrate New Year but at the same time my friend managed to be with his sister, the husband and his beautiful niece.

Marbella are the favourite for the rich people from North Europe, this people come to Marbella for the weather and the beaches but we are not interested in that at all.

Marbella-Orange Square, Evita Peron Moment, Spain

To us it is just another city beside the sea, we are only looking forward for the eve of new year. We got lucky because we able to get a hotel booked exactly on the side of the Orange Square or Plaza de los Naranjos, it is located in the old town. And that is the main area for the party, the most happening place that people will come to celebrate in the eve of each new year. Not only the local will be there, there are so many tourist from all over the world. They came for one reason and one reason only, to party! There are live band performance in the middle of the square, surrounded by the square are many restaurants and bars. I can recalled the 1st song they played is Ricky Martin’s, 'Maria' that night. I started to dance along with the music. About 8pm, people started to gather, more and more people coming after that. I am so amazed, everyone wore nicely, women in dresses and some of the men in tuxedos but you also see simple dress people like me. Everyone look cheerful and merry.

Marbella-Orange Square or Plaza de los Naranjos, Spain

Me and my friends started our dinner around 7pm but we already had our drinks since 3pm. It never stop, we drank and eat and sometime sing, dancing, I even asked a very nice lady on the street to dance with me, she called me 'guapo', whatever it means, it sound nice ;-) we had a laugh. Everywhere people are dancing and smiling, and you can see most people have a glass in their hand, can be wine or beer, which ever it is, everyone says 'salut' to one another.

When the time to countdown my eyes suddenly wide open, we count from 10 to 1, "happy new year'', everyone shouted, and then I remembered, Someone told me, once the clock strike into midnight, you have to kiss someone, if not, you will have a bad luck the whole year ahead, so I kiss anyone I saw coming my way, don't blame me, I am a little tipsy, yeah right! I keep shouting ''Happy 2004'' until my throat nearly sore.

Marbella-View of Orange Square from my room, Spain

I can't remember what time I woke up the next day but I can remember I had a big smile on my face. I also can remember, it was the best new year celebration I had because I am with my good friends and fantastic company, thats what count. Last but not least, I heard Sean Connery and Antonio Banderas have a house in Marbella, girls, what you waiting for? empáquele empaqueta a mujer, rápido!!! ;-P