(Link to article in Daijiworld :
http://www.daijiworld.com/chan/exclusive_arch.asp?ex_id=1560&ex_title=Anne+and+I%2C+in+Amsterdam)
http://www.daijiworld.com/chan/exclusive_arch.asp?ex_id=1560&ex_title=Anne+and+I%2C+in+Amsterdam)
Last summer, when Amsterdam, capital of Netherlands beckoned, I had
four days to explore the city. I had only one thing in my mind - visit
to an old friend's house - rest all was left to chance and mood,
obviously of my wife. |
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Acompanied by my wife and our toddler, I stepped into Netherlands,
one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world, only to
be welcomed by hordes of cycles. The sight got me wondering if I was in
Europe or the streets of a smalltime Indian town. For the fitness crazy
Dutch, cycling seems to be more an obsession than a mode of travel. I
saw flocks of septuagenarians speeding on their toys through the main
streets. Watching women over eighty peddling past teenagers was a
veritable feast to my eyes. I was amazed every time I saw that scene and
it inspired me to walk a few steps with a better posture!
I must add the following baffling facts here. Total population of
Amsterdam is 7.8 lac, number of bicycles is 7 lac. Every year 50,000 get
stolen and 25,000 end up in the canals! |