Happy New Year to everyone!

I wanted a shot to explain just how absolutely ridiculous Reykjavik's New Years celebration is, but sometimes, stuff is just too nuts to squeeze into a single frame, so this'll have to do.

I've never been in a war, and I don't want to trivialize it, but if battles are anything like they're portrayed in the movies, then Reykjavik New Years is a little bit like one. The artillery bombardment started around 19:00, and is still going strong, seven hours later, at 2:00. Every man, woman, and child has apparently been hording fireworks for the entire year, and they're all going off tonight. Around 20:00, giant bonfires started all around the capital (and in towns all around Iceland) and that provided just another place to gather to light fireworks, as well as to hurl snowballs at the inferno. After the fire died, Icelanders retired to their homes to watch an annual hour long satirical show that lampoons the year's news. After that, (during which the fireworks lulled, but did not abate) the artillery began again, but this time with direct air support. Reykjavik's citizenry and substantial tourist population flooded the square around the city's iconic cathedral, stood packed together like sardines, and watched as the city's stockpile of fireworks was sent skyward just feet from the edge of the onlookers. Crowd members joined in frequently, firing off their own fireworks from amongst the masses, and lighting sparklers and emergency flares. Fireworks hit the cathedral, landed on rooftops, and most alarmingly of all, turned around and exploded amongst the crowd. Didn't matter. People were drunk, happy, and in possession of things that went boom. There was nothing that could happen to dampen the mood.

For me, I woke up at 05:00 local time, so it's close to bedtime. But outside, the artillery continues to shell the city, and there is smoke everywhere. It's still difficult to see more than a block due to the haze.

Honestly, this event is ridiculous. I can't imagine a better New Years celebration. A hearty 'skal!' to Iceland. You guys are insane. Absolutely insane.