twentyten

Oh yes away into the decade we certainly are.

New Years was pretty amazing here, I spent it in the tower so I could see over all of Berlin. Things go crazy here! It was like listening to a war or something: this almost constant irrythmic rhythm of explosions in the distance ( and nearness). It was going for hours and hours. People start lighting things off before dark and it just keeps building. At eleven it got even more intense and then shortly before twelve just frantic,
frenetic,
explosions
of sound
and light
and color
until
there was so much smoke you could barely see the fireworks in the next couple streets but could still hear their ricocheting way out in all directions.
Madness.
We drank champagne and went up to the balcony and met a crazy italian couple and some more germans who offered up more champagne and various drinks.

You really have to watch yourself though. I have at least one friend who only walks out with earplugs on the 31st because you just don't know when some kids are gonna throw a cracker on/at/near you. Boom. Those sounds are the worst for your ears. Much worse than nightclubs.

An otherwise Berlin has been looking beautiful, plenty of soft fresh snow (falling gently on plently of aging slippery hard ice). The train route to university is given a lovely touch of fantasy. I couldnt be happier about the whispy white fairyland of streets. (To me I assume it is the normal state of Berlin winter but people say this is quite the exception to the standard months of brown slush.)