Walkin'

I can’t speak for America because I don’t think you notice this type of thing until you are on a different continent. We may very well walk in a zigzag pattern but I have not noticed it. The Dutch do. I let it go for a week figuring it would work itself out and society would prove me wrong. No chance. They walk sideways and zigzag. I cannot believe there are less then twelve thousand accidents a day. In fact, knock on wood, I have yet to see a pedestrian hit a bike or a tram hit a car or a tram hit another tram or a building run into a car. They just seem to understand that the other person has less nerve than them. Evel effing Knievel would lose a game of chicken to a Dutchman. Evel would have died thirty years ago if his nerve was tested in Holland. They would call his bluff, everyone would die, and the people would cope by smoking dope with whatever American tourists were in town.

I did not hit anyone today but I did go to the Dutch version of Target. Willie, by proxy, is the proud owner of new lights and a multi purpose tool. Both are a necessity. The lights make us street legal and the tool is just prudent given Willie's tendency to break down everyday.

Belgium calls this weekend. My trip has gone from a one man pilgrimage to a festival. My fellow interns, Chris and Zheni, are coming along with Chris’ roommates. Chris and his boys are from Houston while Zheni is from Bulgaria. It should be incredible. Bruges is a medieval city lost in time and its sister city, Ghent, is a university driven carbon copy. Ridiculous pictures to follow.