Twelve chimes,Twelve grapes, one bottle of CAVA

On New Year's Eve throughout Spain, as the bell chimes 12 times, you are supposed to eat 12 grapes - symbolizing each month of the year, each disciple or perhaps a dozen eggs...we carefully counted out ours, avoiding the seeds and popped them down. And the fireworks over El Balcon de Europa went on and on. Give these folks ANY reason to celebrate, eat, drink or rest and you can eliminate about 180 working days a year. Trying it's a challenge to find establishments open (souvenir shops NEVER close but museums, restaurants, grocery stores, banks and even churches do) during the holidays but we've managed to get delightfully lost in many a white-washed hill town (Casas Blancas), found extraordinary dining and watched light and clouds change dramatically.

Feliz Año!