I arrived in Amsterdam
After a brief nap, I was ready to explore the city. I found a food stand, bought a “paling” (smoked eel) sandwich, and enjoyed people-watching while eating. I felt such joy watching the bike traffic!
Many people have bikes with beautiful, flowing frames, large wheels and handlebars at a height where one sits upright, called “omafiets” (grandmother bicycle), which are very popular. People of all ages ride them confidently along the bike paths or on the narrow streets, some dressed in suits with briefcases, others in mini-skirts and knee-high boots, others in dresses and high-heels or in jeans - basically dressed for their normal day, riding their bikes to work or school. Occasionally a friend was hitching a ride seated on the back of the bike, propelled seemingly effortlessly by the cyclist.
Bikes have their own little traffic lights at intersections on bike paths along main roads – with cute illuminated red or green bikes. Bicycles are a normal part of traffic, are protected by law, and cars yield to them.
In addition to the preponderance of bikes, there were an amazing number of tall people in Amsterdam
