The changes you experience after you move to Europe are instantaneous. There are church towers instead of skyscrapers, brats and döners instead of junk food, different rules and regulations, armies of bicycles zipping past your ears.
One thing I've already noticed is that I am in much better shape. Aside from the fact that I work out regularly, there is the question of getting around. Although I don't have a car (yet), I'll be hard pressed to find a city where I can get around as easily as in Frankfurt. The public transportation is superb and inexpensive, you can choose between buses, trams, and subways to get you to where you need to go.
Back in the States, it worked like this: get up, get in the car, take the kids to school. Get in the car, do your shopping. Get in the car, pick up the mail. Get in the car, run more errands. Get in the car, breathe. If you are a recluse or a bidding hobbit, then I suppose that's the lifestyle for you. Everything seems to be centered around the automobile, and it doesn't appear this will change anytime soon. As convenient as that may be in a country where gasoline costs two dollars or less a gallon, it is ultimately bound to dead end, in quite a literal sense.
In Germany, people are rewarded for remaining physically fit, as one side of the sidewalk is usually carved out for cyclists. The more you get out into the countryside, the more you'll see that plenty of paths have been appropriated for cyclists and hikers. Back in the States, the automobile is king, and pedestrians and cyclists will have to deal with that. No sidewalk? Tough luck, pilgrim. Walk along the side of the road and pray people don't run you over. Ditto for cyclists.
In Frankfurt, the pedestrian zone in the inner city is a work of beauty in that you'll probably have a flying saucer land in the middle before you'll see a parked car anywhere. Again, in the inner city, cars must know their place. On the autobahn, you can let it out until the wheels lift up and you're airborne, and nobody will be off any worse for it.
In the city, though, cars must mind their p's and q's, or those will turn into penalties and quarrels quicker than you can say 'Flensburg', also known as the northern city where all off your traffic infractions are stored. If there is a zebra crossing, simply stop. If there is a red light or even bright orange, stop. It doesn't get any clearer than that. I recall cows having the right of way in Kathmandu, while people were mostly left to their own devices. Here, the pedestrian is king and rightfully so.
Our subway station is a couple of blocks away, although I consider it a welcome and pleasant walk to get there. In addition, our subway stop has this killer accordion player, who adds to the European flair. He even takes requests, he can probably play 'My Way' blindfolded.
The Grüneburgpark, one of the major parks in Frankfurt, is maybe a 10 minute walk from our house, but there is no way we'll come a across a single car on our way there. Okay, so there is still a remote chance you could get run over by a bicycle, although cyclists are usually very courteous and know when to ring their bells. I've almost forgotten what that is like, just taking a leisurely walk in the neighborhood.
In the end, it all adds to the quality of life, getting from Point A to Point B with little to no hassle. Frankfurt, like most European cities, simply gets it.
One thing I've already noticed is that I am in much better shape. Aside from the fact that I work out regularly, there is the question of getting around. Although I don't have a car (yet), I'll be hard pressed to find a city where I can get around as easily as in Frankfurt. The public transportation is superb and inexpensive, you can choose between buses, trams, and subways to get you to where you need to go.
Back in the States, it worked like this: get up, get in the car, take the kids to school. Get in the car, do your shopping. Get in the car, pick up the mail. Get in the car, run more errands. Get in the car, breathe. If you are a recluse or a bidding hobbit, then I suppose that's the lifestyle for you. Everything seems to be centered around the automobile, and it doesn't appear this will change anytime soon. As convenient as that may be in a country where gasoline costs two dollars or less a gallon, it is ultimately bound to dead end, in quite a literal sense.
In Germany, people are rewarded for remaining physically fit, as one side of the sidewalk is usually carved out for cyclists. The more you get out into the countryside, the more you'll see that plenty of paths have been appropriated for cyclists and hikers. Back in the States, the automobile is king, and pedestrians and cyclists will have to deal with that. No sidewalk? Tough luck, pilgrim. Walk along the side of the road and pray people don't run you over. Ditto for cyclists.
In Frankfurt, the pedestrian zone in the inner city is a work of beauty in that you'll probably have a flying saucer land in the middle before you'll see a parked car anywhere. Again, in the inner city, cars must know their place. On the autobahn, you can let it out until the wheels lift up and you're airborne, and nobody will be off any worse for it.
In the city, though, cars must mind their p's and q's, or those will turn into penalties and quarrels quicker than you can say 'Flensburg', also known as the northern city where all off your traffic infractions are stored. If there is a zebra crossing, simply stop. If there is a red light or even bright orange, stop. It doesn't get any clearer than that. I recall cows having the right of way in Kathmandu, while people were mostly left to their own devices. Here, the pedestrian is king and rightfully so.
Our subway station is a couple of blocks away, although I consider it a welcome and pleasant walk to get there. In addition, our subway stop has this killer accordion player, who adds to the European flair. He even takes requests, he can probably play 'My Way' blindfolded.
The Grüneburgpark, one of the major parks in Frankfurt, is maybe a 10 minute walk from our house, but there is no way we'll come a across a single car on our way there. Okay, so there is still a remote chance you could get run over by a bicycle, although cyclists are usually very courteous and know when to ring their bells. I've almost forgotten what that is like, just taking a leisurely walk in the neighborhood.
In the end, it all adds to the quality of life, getting from Point A to Point B with little to no hassle. Frankfurt, like most European cities, simply gets it.
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