![The main stage large covered stage in front of old city walls](pix/2009/img_9291.jpg)
![From the city gate stage from stage left](pix/2009/img_9289.jpg)
![cafe-side seats people watching from cafe tables](pix/2009/img_9321.jpg)
![Near trhe front on "Keith's side" young women inder lights on wall](pix/2009/img_9304.jpg)
![High riding kid todddler atop father's shoulders](pix/2009/img_9332.jpg)
![Lights 'n folks crowd of celebrants in front of light string display](pix/2009/img_9326.jpg)
![Balcony section hotel balcony with watchers](pix/2009/img_9339.jpg)
![From the back lots of people, distant stage](pix/2009/img_9340.jpg)
Emerging through the walls of the old city, bingo! I'm right alongside
the stage, and the opening act is just winding up. I knew that if I
chose to move on and look around, I would never get back to such a
prime spot again. The once-empty plaza was now a full house.
So... I never got a photo of the headliner, a bleachy blonde woman
with way too much eye make-up, a glittery tunic, and a good strong
voice. I was later told that she is quite popular, and her material is
mainly folk music, though performed with a pop-rock band behind her. My
informant even told me the star's name, but I can't remember.
Later: She was Lepa Brena
"the best selling female artist in history of Balkans" (Wikipedia).
Once I moved to the back of the crowd, it was back to people-watching,
until the midnight countdown.
![Snoggers of the near future young couple about to kiss](pix/2009/img_9377.jpg)
This picture doesn't fit anywhere in the page layout, but the kids are
just too cute to leave out.
Midnight
![Happy New Year fireworks](pix/2009/img_9383.jpg)
![defaulttitle defaultalt](pix/2009/img_9386.jpg)
![defaulttitle defaultalt](pix/2009/img_9417.jpg)
The countdown at last:
- Deset!
- Devet!
- Osam!
- Sedam!
- Šest!
- Pet!
- Četiri!
- Tri!
- Dva!
- Jedan!
Srečna
Nova Godina!
Well,
if they say so... Happy New Year! It is now 2009 in
Budva, Montenegro. The Brits will have to wait an hour, and real west
coast time will take nine more hours.
No few people are recording the event for posterity.
And of course, with the New Year, (Orthodox) Christmas
season
gets
under way.
![Floating Santas Cluster of Santa Claus balloons](pix/2009/img_9256.jpg)
![Kid meets Santas young child with 6 Santas](pix/2009/img_9420.jpg)
Santa was out in
force for the occasion. No complaints about that from the kids.
Does Santa wear a cowboy hat? One Santa does.
Be right with ya, kid.
Just let me saddle up Rudolf, here....
Contents Copyright 2012 Jeff Bulf