Maganza Magazine

As I do not expect to be alone in a foreign country too many more times.

So here goes. I decided I would limit myself to 10 pics to try can capture just the essence.

Many people might think that New York is about: The Statue for Liberty, The Empire State Building, or even streets like Wall Street or 5th Avenue.

When in reality I am sure many of the 4 million people in Brooklyn that have never seen any of them.

Yes their parents may have come through Ellis Island and they may have jobs because Wall street is near by. But the subway is more likely something they can all relate to.

Well, Holland is similar. Yes the windmills may have made the area inhabitable by pumping out the all water from the French and German mountains and lakes.

And tulips may help drive the economy. But the bicycle is really the thing that you will notice and is what differentiates the culture.

I guess this gives credence to the idea that the necessities of modern life are not just food, clothing and shelter but transportation as well.

PS: The wooden clogs are like the NYC big apple. It is not something anyone thinks or talks about.

So what about the bikes. Here is what I observed.
        - They obey the traffic laws but do not wear helmets
        - There are bike lanes on MOST roads
        - The ride sitting straight up
        - People wear normal clothes no matter what the weather and will even ride in snow
        - I saw people riding while: holding umbrellas, holding hands, walking dogs, eating and smoking
        - Kids are often attached to the back and front
        - Women often ride on the back side saddle.
        - This all transcends: age, gender, race and social / economic status

Picture story about Holland ... (pictures below all the descriptions)

1. In some ways more modern than the US … on the Merck site you will see constant robots driving by

2. But the Osha laws are much more lax

3. Pasta prepared in a flaming bowl of cheese (the flame died just before I snapped the shot)

4. There are serious bikes lanes … many are divided like this one.

5. If you can not ride you can get a micro car .. It is just small enough so it does not have to be registered and you can ride in bike lanes.

6. The canals have houseboats for living on … not really for boating

7. Bicycle parking garage.

8. Corrie ten Boom's house was in Haarlem about two miles from my hotel

9. A block a way is this Church you can see on the right … as you can see there are blocks and blocks of restaurants and shopping around it (aka: the "new" Church)

10. Notice the B, B, B .. The outdoor bathroom in the center, the bikes on the left, the band playing outside just behind the pole.
Just so you know, what you see is what you use ... outside! There was a guy using one on the other side.

One more thing. Most of the streets, other than the actual highways are made of brick. In the US it would be cost prohibited. So here the reasons must be:

- The Italians / Mexicans in the US are over charging us,

- The streets are too narrow for cement trucks,

- The government is paying so who cares :-)

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