'Remember, remember the 5th of November...'

Which is what I'm doing today, because I've been meaning to write about this since the 5th of November. Sorry... I'm a slacker. =D

Perhaps many of you aren't familiar with this little rhyme, and perhaps some of you are only familar with it from 'V for Vendetta'. But here it is in full (thanks to Wikipedia):

Remember, remember the Fifth of November,

The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,

I can think of no reason

Why the Gunpowder Treason

Should ever be forgot.

Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, t'was his intent

To blow up the King and Parli'ment.

Three-score barrels of powder below

To prove old England's overthrow;

By God's providence he was catch'd

With a dark lantern and burning match.

Holloa boys, holloa boys, let the bells ring.

Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!

Hallowe'en? Not such a big deal here in the city. Guy Fawkes Day (aka Bonfire Night) on 5 November? It's huge. Traditionally there were actually bonfires, and burning of Guy in effigy. Nowadays it's mostly just fireworks. Not that I'm complaining; I LOVE fireworks. But it seems like everyone in the city goes, and I'm always on my own... and since I don't like crowds of rowdy drunks (which tends to happen, lol), I've never gone myself.

Until this year.

AND I didn't have to go on my own! My new friend, Paige, very kindly consented to go along with me for the cultural experience. And boy, was it that! We headed down to the beach esplanade around 7pm, for the start of the fireworks at 7.30. We made it to the end of Urquhart Road, and that big open grassy area just behind the hotel. It was PACKED! There were people everywhere, and music, and sparklers, and glow-in-the-dark everything.




We didn't have to wait very long for the fireworks to start... and, as Paige put it, they were like the grand finale at home-- for the full twenty minutes! It was pretty darn grand, that's for sure. And the Bond musical theme cracked me up. The heart-shaped fireworks during 'From Russia With Love' was particularly cool. ;) I got some good shots, and some not so good... there was a huge plume of thick black smoke that obscured a lot of the beauty of the fireworks. I don't know if that was because the air was so thick that night, or because of some pyrotechnic malfunction. Either way, it was a pity-- but what we did see was fantastic.




This is Paige...
and this is me.

I also took some video, but if you don't like fireworks, don't bother sitting through it. Because that's all it is. =) I have a couple of them, but I'm only posting the actual finale... although it's a little long. Sorry. I just LOVE fireworks. Did I say that already? ;)

It was chilly, but not freezing. It was crowded, but not out of control. I got to see fireworks, and go with a friend. All in all, a very good night. Even if it was in celebration of someone's execution. =)