New Year's Drink 2017 (2)

The New Year's drink has become a Ghent tradition. Unfortunately times are changing, and this time the security measures were included in the invitation (no big bags or backpacks), but of course this wouldn't keep people away.

Well, the weather might have a bit. It wasn't just grey, it was cold (just above 0°C), and there was something falling from the sky (it was light rain when I arrived closer to the end, but there were signs of something more wintery before, too)

This stall was already closed when I took this picture, so some had already left for home, but it didn't change my impression that there seemed to be less people there than usually. 

Or they tried to crowd under the roof... Yes, I guess it must have been denser there, but umbrellas and hoods are very useful inventions too.

I remember a couple of years ago when the music stopped and the stalls serving drinks (mulled wine, coffee and even beer of course, we are in Belgium after all) closed at 1pm sharp, everyone left.
Nowadays people standing around the long tables and their own makeshift tables (yes, the ironing boards are still in) are not that much in a hurry to leave.