Musings in Holland, Part I

Dateline: It’s September 19, I’ve just returned to the Netherlands from Stockholm the previous day (I had first arrived in the Netherlands in July to stay a few days with another friend and at various hostels) and I’m walking along the streets of Utrecht with Tim, a young Dutchman who for three years has headed the mountain biking department at French Woods, and with whose family I have been staying Woerden for a few days. It’s remarkable how every city in Holland is a brief train ride apart.

I admire the old town feel of Utrecht’s architecture. It’s like Amsterdam, only a more localized version. I take notes of little comments Tim makes:

“The Americans are taking over!” (Read—gentrification, everywhere: Subway, et al.)

“You see any cars around?” (Read—The Dutch bicycle transportation system is superior--I do, indeed, envy the culture)

And then came the most critical statement of all:

“Do you want to please everyone?”

To be continued…