A Few Observations

1. There is a car here smaller than the Smart Car. It's around the same length and about 2/3 the width - and it still fits two people, these two people are smooshed together awkwardly. The car is so small that it can drive in one lane of the bike path, and frequently does.
2. Dutch men, specifically, Dutch men at a posh club playing techno music. They are very tall, very well dressed, and their neck length blond locks are very much jelled back. Play a little techno music and they really let loose. We could learn a few things about being so care free. In fact, yesterday at the beach I saw a young man (early 20s) running around in a speedo throwing seaweed at his buddies. That is a sight I would not see in the US. Oh, you want a photo?
3. Water. I have spent more money on water than anything else. The tap water is potable, but I can only carry so much around, instead I am forced to buy €4 bottles of fancy water because ordering "tap water" is apparently taboo. What this says to me is that 1) Americans drink a lot of water (wow, a healthy food related reputation? I'll take it.), and 2) Water bottling companies make a killing here, they've heavily minimized free public access to their product.
4. Again the Dutch: they are pleasantly laid back. There are times when I am clearly violating general bike traffic rules, or just being sort of a loud tacky American (it's the Brits that have a bad rep here, this is their Vegas baby), and the Dutch seem not in the slightest bit concerned. These are situations in which someone back home would point out my specific violation. It's almost like we get the benefit of the doubt, which is a generous cultural characteristic - no eye rolls or scoffs, just nonchalance.
5. Elaborate tile at the entrance of canal homes:
6. Whistling. Everyone here whistles, while walking, riding bikes, waiting in line. My classes have been disrupted several times by people walking by whistling their little heads off. This morning I was whistling in my room (4 flights up), and I got a sort of responding tune whistled from a passer-byer down below.
7. Red Light District. If you want to find foreigners, go to the Red Light District. I cruise through there on my commute to school. There are always ladies in the windows, although the day shifters are not quite up to the same caliber as the night shifters. Many of the ladies are unionized, pay taxes, and rent their windows much like a barber would. Others have been brought in through human trafficking, which is the primary reason that The Netherlands has started to introduce anti-prostitution legislation, deny window license renewals, and buy up brothel space for artist studios. There are still many working windows, however. We walked by a gal in her bikini perched behind her window the other night. She was chatting on her cell, had her feet kicked up, several red bulls, lots of snacks and a mini dvd player to keep herself occupied. This is an extremely tolerant society, the humor in this fact is that the Dutch are being tolerant of the behavior of foreigners. It is a rare sight indeed to see a Dutchman cruising through the District for shady purposes.
8. Zanvoort, the beach town: not an observation, merely a slideshow of yesterday's fun (beware of the slightly inappropriate pics)