Even though we kept it low-key this New Years due to the little bug I caught – I couldn’t help but reminisce during this time of the year, about past New Years Eve memories abroad... Shanghai, Rio, Cartagena, Belize, New Zealand – there have certainly been some fantastic adventures shared here and there!
One of my favorite moments in recent years was New Years Eve (two years ago) spent on the beaches of Buzios (which is to Rio what the Hamptons is to New York). We had rented a lovely little house with some friends of ours, replete with pool and sauna, and just a stone’s throw to the beach. Rather than the usual opulent dinner booking, we opted for a quiet dining experience at home – the friendly staff helped us prepare some incredible dishes (nom!), and it was very intimate and heartwarming to gather together in front of the dining room table.
On New Year’s Eve, almost everybody in Rio dons white, and this was no less the case in Buzios. After dinner, we headed to the local Praia de Geribá – where all the prettykins gather, for the ensuing fireworks and the champagne. Paying homage to a local tradition (or so I was told!), we gathered flowers into our arms, and thrust into the ocean as the clock strikes midnight (there was also something about making a wish along with each flower tossed, though truth be told my memory’s a bit fuzzy on the details). All I remember was how happy and free I was at that moment, how lucky I felt to see the sky, the stars, and my loved ones around me. I was so eager as I ran into the sea that I even lost my favorite sandal (I came home and bough three more pairs at Banana). Sigh – hazards of the trade I suppose! I wonder if the sirens ever got to that one?
