I'm back.

[Username17]

Oh my goodness there are a lot ofr things to do now that I'm back in California. My transcripts cleared while I was in Europe and the Red Cross apparently wants to know if I'm up for going to Florida (I am, I may be shipping right back out in a few days). So there's like a dozen mdschools and such that I need to send info to.

Short version: Europe is awesome, and I could seriously see living in Amsterdam or Berlin, those are great cities. Denmark, not so much - the place is cute, and the socialism is wonderful, but even Copenhaven lacks the big city appeal of the major cities in Holland or the BRD. There are only 6 million Danes, and it really shows that the entire country has less people than the greater San Jose metropolitan area.

Gripes:

OK, progress is completely uneven throughout the world. Things you take for granted in your life are being done a million times better elsewhere, and those same places are in the stone age compared to what you're used to in other things. So despite the fact that Berlin has a mass transit system that would easily make me abandon driving for good, there are still a number of things that will distress a Californian as being backwards while travelling in Europe:

Smoking Inside - holy shit. People smoke inside. Like chimneys, and it's extremely nasty. They do it in bars, they do it nightclubs, they do in restaraunts, it's off the hook disgusting. And it's really bad for people. You'd think that people who have a socialized medical system would understand that they are physically paying for people to get gassed with secondhand smoke and that there's no reason for it - but they just don't see it that way. It's very weird.

Drinking Water - There is seriously like one drinking fountain in all of the Netherlands, and it's in the Vondel Park next to the street. Restaraunts won't give you free water, and when you ask for water they will charge you for it and give you fvcking bubbly water instead of good honest drinkables. Denmark and Germany are no better. There are no drinking fountains in Train Stations, there are no dsrinking fountains in museums, there are none on the street. I don't know how the Europeans survive. But as a traveler, what you will do is to take bottles around and fill them out of the tap in bathrooms. The water is totally clean and drinkable, but the people of Europe won't drink it.

I'm figuring out how to get the pictures online right now, so I'll be able to give you a more complete debriefing later on.

-Username17

[Username17]

Here's an experiment:




There are things in Europe that are hard to get in America.

-Username17

[fbmf]

Welcome back, Frank.

Game On,
fbmf

[Maj]

Cute, Frank. Glad you had a good time.

BTW - Whatever it is that took that picture is amazing. When I right click on it, it gives me a crap tonne of information that I don't need, but think my browser is awesome to provide:

Orientation of image: 1
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Image input equipment model: KODAK Z740 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA
Exposure time: 0.125
F number: 2.8
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ISO speed rating: 140
Shutter speed: 3
Aperture: 3
Exposure bias: 0
Maximum lens aperture: 3
Metering mode: 5
Lightsource: 0
Flash: 16
Lens focal length: 6.3
Exposure index: 140
Sensing method: 2
Custom rendered: 0
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Scene capture type: 0
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Subject distance range: 0

[The_Matthew]

It's good to have you back Frank, now I have someone to yell at again.

[fbmf]

What are you holding in your right hand, Frank?

Game On,
fbmf

[erik]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stroopwafel

My mom has a friend who used to make those for my family from time to time. Very thin sugary waffle-like crisps. Yummy.

[edit: and welcome back Frank]

[Crissa]

Waffles!

Wanna do a movie while you're still in town, Frank? Give me a call.

-Crissa

[Krowout]

Strupe Waffles. Heavy on the syrup. Es very much gud ya?
Ya we got that in the States.
But Cuban Rum? That we don't get. If we get anything from there it's Cigars.
So is it any good? The Rum I mean. Is it really worth looking for when traveling out of the country or is it simply a novelty? I'm guessing the latter.
The cigars now... mmmm... they're worth looking for.

[Draco_Argentum]

I'm disappointed, Frank looks sane. I was expecting mid rant about Skip Williams.

[MrWaeseL]

Smoking in public places (it's already banned in schools and offices) is being phased out in the Netherlands. It's still allowed, but it's got the trend going against it.

As for drinking fountains, noone drinks from them over here (they're nasty). Everyone simply brings a small SPA bottle with them when they go out.

[Boulie_98]

1156940626[/unixtime]]I could seriously see living in Amsterdam

Me too, starting this Sunday

On the water: I remember being super amazed in Arizona that you'd always get a huge glass o'water with your anything.

My g/f (being American) also loves the stroopwafels.

[Crissa]

1157015315[/unixtime]]I'm disappointed, Frank looks sane. I was expecting mid rant about Skip Williams.

It's the rum.

-Crissa