The only bike riding today was on a guided bike tour of the city of Groningen. This is a university town in the northeast of the country, and is considered the most bike-friendly city on the planet. The old city center is closed to cars, but that does not make it idyllic - there are zillions of people zipping around on bikes, not to mention a mob of pedestrians, and the occasional bus, taxi, or delivery truck. On the tour, we got a taste of navigating a bike through that maze - it takes some getting used to!
Groningen seems like home in one way - lots of young people around, like in Ithaca. Very different from those sleepy villages we have been seeing.
Today both of the big squares in the center were packed with street vendors, most of them in fancy trailers. There was lots of food - fruits and vegies, fish, and meat. One vendor sold only potatoes - 20 different varieties. Also prepared food (e.g. frites!)
We had dinner at a nice little restaurant that served vegetarian and fish dishes. Suzanne had a cheese fondue and I had a seafood risotto.
We're staying in a hotel because we were not able to find someone from Vrienden op de Fiets in time. Tomorrow we will head to Bremerhaven, Germany (by train) to visit our friend Hella.
Groningen seems like home in one way - lots of young people around, like in Ithaca. Very different from those sleepy villages we have been seeing.
Today both of the big squares in the center were packed with street vendors, most of them in fancy trailers. There was lots of food - fruits and vegies, fish, and meat. One vendor sold only potatoes - 20 different varieties. Also prepared food (e.g. frites!)
We had dinner at a nice little restaurant that served vegetarian and fish dishes. Suzanne had a cheese fondue and I had a seafood risotto.
We're staying in a hotel because we were not able to find someone from Vrienden op de Fiets in time. Tomorrow we will head to Bremerhaven, Germany (by train) to visit our friend Hella.
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