New Year's!

Stastny Novy Rok! or Happy New Year! Here's how we rung in 2007. Halle and I traveled back to Mikulas, and met up with my friends Miska and Katka. We started the "festivities" by joining the two at Miska's apartment for a movie. However, since it was a national holiday, there were barely any buses running, so we had to take a taxi into town. We ended up watching a Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen movie in Czech, and there weren't any English subtitles, but that's ok because the story was simple enough that we didn't need them. If anything funny was said, we just had Miska translate it. (Halle and I in the center)

We left Miska's close to midnight and went to the center to wait for the Slovak New Year's festivities. At the stroke of twelve, the fireworks started and so did the champaign shower and a bunch of drunk Slovaks singing their national anthem. It was so great! Ok, so it wasn't fun being doused with champaign, but the experience was definitely worth it! (The back of Miska's head, Katka, and some guy picking his nose)

We walked around town for a bit to see what all was going on, and then made a quick stop off at the Q-bar for a quick drink. The music they played was awesome because it was all traditional songs sung by old guys like Robo Kazik, and everyone was getting into them and singing. (The catholic church with New Year's fireworks)

Katka and I also did our "choreography" for Halle. At some point during the year, Katka and I made up this little synchronized snoring routine, so we performed that for Halle. Of course it didn't matter because everyone else at the pub was too busy singing along with Robo. (Halle and I in the Q-bar)

When we got tired of that, we went back for a slumber party at Miskas. Katka went to bed soon after, but Halle, Miska and I stayed up until 4am talking. Miska and Katka got up early, around 9, I finally got up around 11, but Halle beat us all and didn't get up until 1pm! We were probably some of the few people in Slovakia who didn't have a monkey New Year's Day! Hurray for being sober! (Miska taking a picture of me taking a picture of them)

New Year's day we went to the village Svaty Kriz to show Halle the wooden church. We got a tour from Katka's grandmother, and we asked to give a concert, so we busted out some good Witt Choir christmas song arrangements. Halle sang beautifully, and I did ok. It's amazing how much you forget when you've been out of choir for 3 years! (Choreography!)

When we done touring the church, we went to Katka's house and her mom fed us. It was fun just sitting around the kitchen table listening to translated stories. Katka and her mom are hilarious! After meeting all of my friend's parents it explains everything (what makes them tick and all of their little quirks)!