What's your biggest “only in Europe” moment?
A few moments got noticed during my trips to France, Belgium and Netherlands.Roads, with bicycle lanes two times wider than car lanes. And this is no joke. They were found in smaller towns and people really cycle most of the time as the distances within these towns are maximum 20 minutes on the bike from edge to edge.Those bicycle lanes are actually more dangerous for pedestrians than car lanes. The speed limits for cars there would be usually 50 km/h (31 mph), and cars would always stop to let you cross. The bikes will not, and it’s your problem if you don’t watch your step. They not only won’t stop, but will angrily signal if you lapse your concentration. They are really murderous. Just like our cyclists in London — disregard to pedestrians and only care about maintaining their speed.So bike is the king there… €20 per day to park at work if I chose to drive instead of walk. Nothing to park a bike.Also, Grass growing on platforms at rail stations. (Belgium). I took the train to airport and saw when passing by, that on certain stations there were low platforms covered with grass. What I don’t know, is if that’s meant to be, or just simple neglect.Needless to say, in England there’s never grass growing on platforms. Everything very practical.Cash required in supermarkets… (Netherlands) I was astonished when the cashier told me that my VISA credit card is no good, and asked, whether I’ve got a local card (akin to British cash card, like a Debit but not of universal system). Thankfully, there was an ATM where I could withdraw cash to pay for my purchases. How incredibly annoying. It may benefit shopkeepers, by saving on transaction surcharges, but to a client, this is hellishly inconvenient.Tourist shops, on the other side, happily accept VISA and MasterCard. However, they jack up the prices. No rest for the wicked.I’ll update later if I remember more.
History enthusiast, practicing Catholic and all in all a man puzzled by moral questions.
Will a psychopath say that they want to marry someone who loves them just to manipulate them sexually and with no intention of ever marrying them? If so, are they aware that they are hurting that person? Do they care?
It depends what kind of psychopath. This is just a generalization. I believe a person has to be also a manipulant and a narcissist to do something like this. Maybe also a cheater and a lier. Most likely just a serial dater. Or just a man who would do anything and say anything to get sex. It’s important to understand the difference between “say” and do and not let this person achieve his goal until he can prove that there is no difference between his “say” and “do” tactics. If you let him achieve it without testing him first, then you might have lost in his game of love.
What's your biggest “only in Europe” moment?
A few moments got noticed during my trips to France, Belgium and Netherlands.Roads, with bicycle lanes two times wider than car lanes. And this is no joke. They were found in smaller towns and people really cycle most of the time as the distances within these towns are maximum 20 minutes on the bike from edge to edge.Those bicycle lanes are actually more dangerous for pedestrians than car lanes. The speed limits for cars there would be usually 50 km/h (31 mph), and cars would always stop to let you cross. The bikes will not, and it’s your problem if you don’t watch your step. They not only won’t stop, but will angrily signal if you lapse your concentration. They are really murderous. Just like our cyclists in London — disregard to pedestrians and only care about maintaining their speed.So bike is the king there… €20 per day to park at work if I chose to drive instead of walk. Nothing to park a bike.Also, Grass growing on platforms at rail stations. (Belgium). I took the train to airport and saw when passing by, that on certain stations there were low platforms covered with grass. What I don’t know, is if that’s meant to be, or just simple neglect.Needless to say, in England there’s never grass growing on platforms. Everything very practical.Cash required in supermarkets… (Netherlands) I was astonished when the cashier told me that my VISA credit card is no good, and asked, whether I’ve got a local card (akin to British cash card, like a Debit but not of universal system). Thankfully, there was an ATM where I could withdraw cash to pay for my purchases. How incredibly annoying. It may benefit shopkeepers, by saving on transaction surcharges, but to a client, this is hellishly inconvenient.Tourist shops, on the other side, happily accept VISA and MasterCard. However, they jack up the prices. No rest for the wicked.I’ll update later if I remember more.
What's your biggest “only in Europe” moment?
A few moments got noticed during my trips to France, Belgium and Netherlands.Roads, with bicycle lanes two times wider than car lanes. And this is no joke. They were found in smaller towns and people really cycle most of the time as the distances within these towns are maximum 20 minutes on the bike from edge to edge.Those bicycle lanes are actually more dangerous for pedestrians than car lanes. The speed limits for cars there would be usually 50 km/h (31 mph), and cars would always stop to let you cross. The bikes will not, and it’s your problem if you don’t watch your step. They not only won’t stop, but will angrily signal if you lapse your concentration. They are really murderous. Just like our cyclists in London — disregard to pedestrians and only care about maintaining their speed.So bike is the king there… €20 per day to park at work if I chose to drive instead of walk. Nothing to park a bike.Also, Grass growing on platforms at rail stations. (Belgium). I took the train to airport and saw when passing by, that on certain stations there were low platforms covered with grass. What I don’t know, is if that’s meant to be, or just simple neglect.Needless to say, in England there’s never grass growing on platforms. Everything very practical.Cash required in supermarkets… (Netherlands) I was astonished when the cashier told me that my VISA credit card is no good, and asked, whether I’ve got a local card (akin to British cash card, like a Debit but not of universal system). Thankfully, there was an ATM where I could withdraw cash to pay for my purchases. How incredibly annoying. It may benefit shopkeepers, by saving on transaction surcharges, but to a client, this is hellishly inconvenient.Tourist shops, on the other side, happily accept VISA and MasterCard. However, they jack up the prices. No rest for the wicked.I’ll update later if I remember more.