Ok, so this has been a long time coming and it may be a pretty long post just cause there is a lot to say. But let me first say that I am not saying that either side is better then the other, I'm just pointing out key observations that when I first saw them made me look twice because it was different then what I am use too.
First, as I have mentioned before, bicycles are on the other end of the spectrum here, compared to the Sates. Not everyone though, but on average. For example, Amsterdam was packed full of bikes and they had the right of way over pedestrians. You could take them any where, park them any where, the city just made it so much easier to own a bike over a car. Paris, not as many bikes, but they did have these "bike station" where you can rent a bike and then park it at another "station" where ever you were going. So it was kind of like renting a bike, and it was was tied into your Metro pass, so the bikes were often found at Metro stations and you just tapped your card, the bike unlocked, and off you went into the sunset. Pretty cool concept. In Berlin, there are not as many bikes as Amsterdam, but they have special bike lanes that do not share the road with cars but are actually more sharing the sidewalk with pedestrians. My fellow students and I often finding ourselves walking on them without realizing it, because it is only symbolized my a change of brick with no type of barrier, and jump out of the way as we hear a bicycle bell come flying up behind us. Basically they just make it easier for people with bikes so more people own them, and I like that.
Another big one is the cleaning service. I noticed this more in Amsterdam and Paris than in Berlin (so far). But basically, Amsterdam doesn't seem to wake up until 10 or so, and I think it's due to them staying up until 3. The town is most lively at like 1-2, so you can imagine that there is a huge mess in the streets the next morning. Well, not for long because city workers, on feet and street cleaners, are up early in the morning sweeping up all the streets. Not saying the place is spotless, but it does seem cleaner. One night I was walking home and this one street at literally hundreds of Fanta bottles all over the place, the next morning, GONE! I've also seen this in Spain, so I know it is a common European concept.
This is kind of annoying to me, but when you buy bottles here in Berlin, you can get charged up to 50 euro-cents as a deposit. You get it back when you return the bottle, but you can only return it to a store who sells that same product. So if I buy a coke, I have to return it at a store that sells coke. I guess if you buy something from Aldi, which is a grocery store that I bought my groceries at a few posts ago, you have to return them at Aldi and Aldi only! Kind of annoying.
This is a gimme, but the cars over here are crazy! First, in Berlin, the traffic lights go Green-Yellow-Red and then Red-Yellow-Green. This country is made for fast cars... and they show it. As soon as that goes from Red-to-Yellow, those cars are gone! Second, I walked down a "rich" shopping street today and passed by several Lamborghini's, Ferrari's, Aston Martins, and a few high end Audi, I think it was an R8. But I have seen these cars go flying by near my studio and apartment, so they are pretty common, unlike back home.
Lastly, for now, is COLD MEDICINE! I've been sick since Amsterdam with some kind of cold. I've been to two pharmacies since my arrival in Berlin and have come out with the wrong thing the first time and empty handed the next. Apparently they do not have "cold medicine" like we do in the States. They also, that I have found, do not have stores like CVS or Rite-Aid where you can walk in and look at all the non-perscribtion meds you can think of. Trying to explain you have a cold and not a fever and just want to treat the cough, in German, is hard. The first time I was given medication for a sore throat. The second time she was trying to give me a pain medication for my chest. All I want is some Tylenol Cold & Sinus! All well, should have brought some, bad planning on my part!
Anyway, that is it for now, time to some food, after my 45 minute train ride home! Take care all!
Tschüss!
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