But for residents, much of this becomes routine dulled by time, muted by circumstance.
Many journalists have wilted under censorship; during turbulent times, their muted work reads like dispatches from an alternate reality.
Snow, ice and subfreezing temperatures forced hundreds of flight cancellations, made travel in the sprawling metropolitan area nearly impossible at times, and muted much of the week's festivities.
In places -- the entrance of the Allegro theme in the first movement, after the brief Adagio introduction -- the Vega Quartet's eagerness blurred the moment of transition from one mood to another; at other times, care muted the climaxes of some of the first-movement phrases.
Instead, worn a piece or two at a time, in muted tones (leave the neons at the gym), and paired with crisp shirts and neat trousers, they can add graphic interest to the most basic wardrobe.
The hedge fund started the month up about 9 percent for the year to date, a standout performance in what has so far been been a time of muted returns.
He is 70 now, of course, and perhaps time has muted the bravado and the innuendo, the hair dye and the tan, perhaps he has realised he has little left to prove.
UKIP's campaign, which was expected to loom large over the election, at times appeared more muted than expected, and Mr Farage revealed he had been receiving hospital treatment for a chronic back condition in the early stages.
Other interventions occurred online and over time, the mob muted.
The sun comes up very quickly in Africa and, at that time, it's muted and subtle.
He said so more than once in that muted time early on Wednesday afternoon when the turmoil detonated by his achievement had subsided for a few hours.
