Reflections on Belgium

This is the last day of our two weeks in Belgium. We have visited six towns along the coast, seen a few tourist sites and wandered off the beaten path numerous times. 

During the past two years we have spent six weeks in Panama, a month in the Dominican Republic, three months in Ecuador, and now finishing up two months in Europe, with six weeks to go. 

Because of these travels and actually spending the time to get to know a place, I feel slightly able to pass judgement. Belgium is the cleanest country with the nicest people in the world. The times we exited the tourist haunts and wandered side streets and roads we were always expecting to see the "seedy" side. That never happened. 

The people are family oriented and are out and about together every evening. The younger adults with children and the older folks with dogs. If a child falls off a bike the nearest adult scoops them up until a parent takes over. The teenagers go about their own business, but quietly. 

There are not a lot of guard rails, hand rails, and locked fences like in America. I suspect liability laws are different here. If you wander in front of the train or step off the edge of the boardwalk that was your decision. There seems to be some consideration of being responsible for yourself here. I have only seen three policemen in the past two weeks.

You never hear cross voices, there are no panhandlers or street people, and cars stop at pedestrian walkways if you are at the curb.

Pedestrian walkway at far right, red brick bike path, single lane for cars, then trolley tracks. All repeated on the other side for opposing traffic. And a few flowers in the median, of course.

There is one problem group here. Little old ladies. They will cut in line in front of you given half a chance. The first day here I got cut in on at the grocery store and thought it was a mistake. Saw the same thing in a tram line and thought it a coincidence. Had another one test me at the bakery and realized it was a trend. Stared a little old lady down who was trying to inch in front of me at the night market a couple days ago. I have let some of them go - after all who wants to fight with little old ladies? Maybe it is a social perk here I am unaware of and I am perpetuating the ugly American story.

Of course I am nitpicking. This is a wonderful, beautiful country populated with happy, pleasant people.