People:
When we were in Holland, we found everyone friendly and more than willing to help us foreigners out. Many signs were in English and Public announcements were made in both Dutch and English. Several people helped us with cheerful smiles on their faces.
When we crossed into Germany, the people seemed much more interested in their own agendas and were less willing to help. They seemed much less friendly. Both Len and I noticed this even though we weren't traveling together. Also, the signs weren't in English at all and all public address notices were in both Dutch and German.
Transportation:
There are many nice cars here! We've seen SAAB convertibles, smart cars, and many others. All of them appear to be in excellent condition.
No rust or junkers here!There are bicycles everywhere! (And Bob, they are all just like Len's Mary Poppins' bike with baskets and racks galore and upright handle bars.) The people riding them do not wear helmets but when there is a child on the back, the child usually has one on. People often c
arry backpacks while riding and we even saw a man carrying a long wooden pole over one shoulder as he rode! The sidewalks are two-toned. The red part is a bike path and heaven help you if you stand in it! The white part is for walkers. When you walk along, it almost feels like when you are in the airport walking along and the people who are walking on the people movers walk right on by you. The bikes just zip along with nothing to get in their way. While we ate dinner, Len commented that it must be rush hour because all of a sudden, about 15 bikes went by. :-)People hop on and off the trains just like the subways in Toronto. When Len decided to return to the airport to check on their lost luggage, he just hopped on a train to get right there. I think it will take me awhile to feel that comfortable getting around that way.
We've already seen one person on a Segway. (Is that how you spell it?) He was riding in the bicycle lane.
Clothing:
I have never seen so many women wearing nylons! Bare legs aren't seen at all. When we went through Holland, it was cold and I even saw a woman with cable knit tights on with her skirt! Also, they wear colored nylons and they wear them with open-toed sandals, even ones with heels! All this in July! It's hard to believe.
Men wear capris here! The first person we saw it on Jake thought it had more to do with his perception of the man's apparent lack of intellect. I sat near that man on the plane so I know that was not the case but when he spoke Dutch, he did sound a little slurry. :-) We have now seen men wearing capris all over the place. It's not my favorite look. Especially since they too often have on socks and sandals or shoes with them.
Language:
Right now there is a very boisterous group of men singing loudly somewhere across the water. It is certainly different to hear than at home. I find myself people watching quite a bit. I don't feel so bad staring at them because I can't understand a word they are saying so it's not like I'm eavesdropping. However, I realize that they don't know that I can't understand them so I probably make them uncomfortable. I have to keep in mind that most of them can understand me even if I can't understand them. It's tempting to just start talking because you feel like no one should be able to understand you when you can't understand them. :-)
Well time for that banana. I wish I had remembered to take a Tylenol PM before I went to bed. Now it is too late.
Ann
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