12 Tag New Year's Eve

So, where should I start.

First of all, I wish you all a Happy New Year. I hope it started as well for you as it did for me.

It was a dream.

Now I understand why 1.6 million people come to Sydney to experience New Year's Eve here.

So, yesterday at 4 pm, I took the bus from Vaucluce to the City. Everything was normal in the streets at that time. However, the bus did not go all the way to Circular BAY, but only to Martin Place or one station before. From here, everything was blocked off. I then walked down Elizabeth Street with the crowd of people to Circular Quay. From Alfred Street, everything was already blocked off for pedestrians. Thank God I had a ticket for the Opera and was allowed through. It was something special, having an extra path just for the opera visitors through the whole crowd.

Insane!!!!

Yes, and then in the Opera, a totally different world of absolute silence. How can I describe the interior of the opera.......

I can't, simply gigantic and beautiful. I then treated myself to canapes and a glass of wine and watched the crowd of people at the Quay from the terrace.

It was somehow strange. I felt like a very important person. And now about the attire of the opera visitors. People were wearing everything:

From Bermuda jackets, jeans, and tuxedos for the men.

For the women, I have never seen so much bare skin. A mini skirt that almost looks like very very short hot pants. Long dresses in gold and silver with a neckline and back cutout that made you wonder how this dress stays up and doesn't slide down. Mostly worn by very slim Asians.

Stilettos with such thin and high heels that made you wonder how can one walk in them? Lace was very popular with the ladies, in all variations. Some without lining, so you got the feeling they were wearing nothing underneath. I assume it was a flesh-colored bra and panties, but who knows in Sydney. Everything is possible here. Lace was in fashion on top and a long tulle skirt underneath, I have even seen it like that at the opera in Munich. Except in Munich, almost everything was black and here in Sydney, the clothing was mostly in pastel colors.

Now, about the concert:

Spectacular setting and I had a beautiful seat. Yes, and now to the performance itself.

There was a host who partly announced the pieces. He must have made it very funny, as the audience often laughed. Unfortunately, I hardly understood anything, but that doesn't matter, the laughter was infectious. I only heard that 60% of the tickets were sold abroad. Of which 40% were sold to Chinese people alone. Four fantastic singers performed, and the Australian Word Orchestra played under the direction of Riccardo Muti. Unfortunately, I didn't buy a program, so I don't know the names of the singers. But they had wonderful voices. Arias from:

The Barber of Seville, La Boheme, La Traviata, Tosca, Turandot, and Carmen were sung. I especially liked the flower duet from Lakme and a violin solo (I know the piece, but can't name it). And of course, much more. The atmosphere in this room was totally different, not as stiff as with us. People were laughing and the applause was so spontaneous and enthusiastic that you jumped up and joined in. And that happened almost after every song. I can't describe it. Shortly before 9 pm, there was an intermission. During this intermission, a small fireworks display takes place in Sydney. I would say it lasted about five minutes, and it was already gigantic, but this fireworks display is incomparable to midnight.

Then the concert continued. With glitter confetti falling from the ceiling. There were party blowers on our seats that we eventually blew onto the stage. Towards the end, the drinking song from the opera La Traviata was sung. The singers came on stage each with a glass of champagne. The host had a bottle with him. At the end of the song, this bottle was passed to the conductor and he took a sip from it and passed it on to the first violinist. Naturally, there was huge enthusiasm in the audience. And finally, it became really sentimental for me. All the singers and the audience sang the unofficial national anthem Waltzing Matilda. It's been a long time since I've had such an emotional evening, and I had to fly to Sydney for New Year's Eve. The concert ended at around 11 pm. After that, we waited for the grand fireworks display. But it went by quickly with two glasses of wine and people-watching.

And then it happened...

It's indescribable. I didn't know where to look. Of course, the terrace of the Opera House offers a fantastic view in all directions. Fireworks over the Bridge, behind the buildings, over the Botanical Gardens, even the ferries in the Bay were shooting off rockets. I think something like this would not be allowed in our country at all. It lasted about 15 minutes. You really have to see it live and of course the music and all the people. As I said, insane!!!!!!

Did I already mention that it was worth flying to Sydney just for that evening. Then I was lucky and caught a bus to Rose Bay. And here it was a madhouse. Crowds of people coming from the hills and meadows, wanting to go back to the City. I was going against the flow. When I arrived home, I treated myself to a beer that was still in the fridge. I would have preferred a nice glass of red wine, but the beer tasted wonderful too. So, now I'm going to go to my nudist beach and take a swim.

See you, Roswitha