Reply #6: Aw, thanks sweetie pie!! [View All]

[tinfoilinfor2005]

It really is hard to sum up the trip in a nutshell...suffice it to say that that part of the world remains an enigma. The people are cool and aloof and not quick to smile and certainly their history explains their lack of joviality, but at the same time they are curious and anxious to learn and expand their knowledge and experience. Most are very poor and each day involves simple sacrifices and choices that we very rarely have to make. Example; I can have meat for breakfast today if I give up meat for dinner.

The whole experience was somewhat confusing. The big cities are modern as any big city here in the states, but out in the country life is very much as I remember it here in the late 1940's in terms of living conditions... housing, appliances, etc. But at the same time, the teenagers are all wearing the latest american fashions and highlight their hair, girls and boys. It was like watching one of those artsy flicks that never truly makes sense.

And really odd was the fact that in nineteen days and four countries, I never saw a person of color. Not one. Coming from the country of all colors, this really stuck out. And every once in a while someone in conversation would say to me, "You have the negroes." Which of course is a very odd thing to say or hear, but then again when you look around and see NO color at all, I guess you can understand why they might say that. Just very odd. When I finally arrived in Amsterdam and saw lots of smiling faces of multiple colors in the line for my flight, I felt like I was home again.

A lot of buses and trains and trams and a lot of walking. Walking through towns, castles, cathedrals, museums, etc. And a lot of eating because when you walk a lot you can eat more. And the food is fantastic. No fast food, although that is starting a little in the big cities.

All in all it was quite an experience.

Thanks for your welcome, it warmed me up after being in Zhivago-land! :hug: