In Amsterdam, Miscellaneous

General Observations:

1. Toilets and urinals are mounted a few inches higher than U.S. Standard. As a man of modest height, the difference requires tippy-toes at the urinals. Speaking of urinals, they have these green S-curved mesh screen devises on some street corners. I discovered their purpose when I saw a guy enter the curve and then obviously relieve himself - I was told later that these public urinals were installed years ago to direct the pee of drunken male revellers. No such luck for the lady folk.

2. They have more American fast food here than we do by any statistical measurement. I have seen 3 McDonalds, 2 Burger Kings, a Kentucky Fried Chicken, 3 Starbucks and a few other chains all within a ten minute walk of one another. I guess the munchies really gets to all of the potheads.

3. There are a lot of potheads and a lot of "coffee shops". You can get a contact high just by passing them on the street. According to bike tour guide, Pip, the deal to make them legal limited the number of licenses issued. No license will ever be re-issued, so when/if a place goes under, another can't take its license.

4. When you ride a tram in Amsterdam, you have to swipe your ticket getting on the tram ... AND leaving it. I guess it's for fare zones, but who's really to stop you if you're getting off anyway?

5. People don't seem to keep to the right when walking. Instead, either they're unsophisticated tourists or they're native Europeans engaged in a complex societal dance to show rank and purpose in the world. Whatever it is, they don't keep to the left, either.

6. Why are there a lot of "J"s in Dutch, but they're much, much rarer in German?

7. Scarves are big here, for men and women. I think that you're identified as a foreigner first by lack of bike, and second by a naked neck.

8. Pancakes are very popular here - there are several pancake huizen. So are herring - lots of shops to buy herring-based snacks. Haven't seen herring-stuffed pancakes advertised, though.