New Year's Eve is called Silvester here, officially renamed back in the early '80s in honour of the sweaty star of the Rocky and Rambo films. As usual, the night saw vast amounts of fireworks tossed with gay abandon by everyone, everywhere and at everything. Explosions were so frequent, the sound was less like individual bangs and more like an endless waterfall of ball bearings clattering down a massive glass staircase in the sky.
This went on for hours and hours and hours, though "veterans" I spoke to agreed it was quieter than previous years.
I captured a little of the visual aftermath for your viewing pleasure. It's very revealing, don't you think. If I was of the American persuasion I would probably say "enjoy!" now, but as I'm not I won't.
For health reasons! It's got herbs in it!
Surely this is illegal?
Berlin is the true home of international glamour.
I don't know what this is, but there are thousands and thousands of them lying in the streets.
PS: The snow has only melted in the last couple of days, so the streets are now piled high with a rich layer of grit, thawing rat corpses, burnt out fireworks and weeks old "art" left by Berlin's dogs. It's great!
