Thats the sound I hear as I get out of the car having just arrived back from Berlin. Under my feet, I can feel the mushy crunch of fireworks that have been sitting there for the last 24 hours. Just like in Berlin, cleaning crews will get to it but after making the jumbo-sized mess that both cities make on New Years Eve, this operation takes awhile.

Fortunately 2008 has come and as far as I've heard, with minimal injuries from fireworks or drunkenness, though that one could be a long term injury. Over in Berlin I witnessed yet another city go what they call "smoke free". A phenomenon that had tons of people today and yesterday, huddling together outside the doors of bars and cafés. Who knows, one side effect will likely be that more smokers make new friends as they chit chat in the freezing cold and snow this winter.

Still it was not surprising to go into one of these lovely almost-underground cafe's and smell that familiar smell of smokers doing their thing. And here in Amsterdam, the smoking ban is being phased in at different time periods. When I figure it all out, I'll let you know.

For now it is back to life, back in the Netherlands after lots of holiday fun, of course on Trippist it means new places to recommend and yes, soon, a new trippist to tell you tales and share adventures. - Happy 2008 dear readers.