This post is to wrap up some loose ends and to solve some mysteries. Some mysteries will continue to linger, however, maybe never to be solved.
Hamburgers – the streak is broken. I was going to hold out until the perfect opportunity presented itself. Instead all it took was an actual opportunity. I ate my first burger in months in the shadows of a cathedral in Middelburg on a sunny, warm spring day. It wasn’t that good and now the quest is back on for the BEST burger in Europe, not the FIRST one.
Flee mount/mound – I was sent an answer to this one from one of my relatives, but I’m not sure I understand it. I can’t tell if it is a real answer or they are messing with me. I have further speculated that the flee mount is a built up area near the canals of Holland whose purpose is to be a safe have or a place to “flee” in the event of a flood or breach in a levee. For animals or humans I suppose.
Lack of ice cubes in Europe – still a mystery. In fact it leads me to my next subject and the introduction of some additional mysteries. First…Ice cubes will get you dimed out as an American right away. Here are a list of things that will get your cover blown as an American in Europe…if you’re hiding the fact that is.
- Asking for “extra” ice cubes or ice cubes at all.
- Wearing tennis shoes. This one isn’t hard and fast, but anyone over 15 probably isn’t wearing tennis shoes and they definitely aren’t white.
- Wearing a baseball style cap. Again this one isn’t fool proof, but combined with either of the above and you are definitely American.
- Eating waffles with whipped cream (slagroom). This one I don’t care about. The waffles are delicious and I love whipped cream.
Now for the additional mystery.
Why don’t the Dutch, a people whose lives seem dedicated to the proliferation of bike riding, wear helmets? Even the small children don’t wear helmets here. I know we have become a bit of a coddled society and protecting our brains has become a bit of an obsession, but what’s the story? The bike rental guy pretty much barely held back his laughter when Jen inquired about a helmet for Sam. Even if you have bike lanes and have been riding bikes for thousands of years the occasional collision between car and bike is bound to leave a mark. I would rather it didn’t leave a mark on my I.Q. Ok…back to your jobs people.
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