Quote:
Originally posted by CJFusco
Now, the difference between America and some of the European countries is a matter of lifestyle. I spent some time with my cousin in Holland; thieir idea of snackfood is fruit, veggies, fish, crackers, and cheese. They sit down to dinner at 5:30, and don't gorge themselves... meals take awhile to serve, and everyone sits at the table for hours enjoying one another's company. I have seen 4-hour "dinners" where I have eaten much less (and better food) than a 20-minute gorge-fest here in the states.
Also, due partially to obscenely-high gas prices and partially to a lack of parking spaces, people are far more apt to ride their bikes short distances instead of driving their cars. People in Holland are seriously in very good shape! I don't think I saw anyone under the age of 60 or so that wasn't toned and slim.
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I have 28 cousins living in Holland and can vouch for most of your anaylsis. The advantage to riding a bike in Holland is that everything is close by and easily accessable with dedicated bike roads with their own signs and signals. Plus the country is predominantly flat in topography so the only contentions would be rain (lots of it) and wind (also lots of that). In the America the distances are much greater, you have to share the roads with cars, and at least here in San Diego the topography is predominantly hilly.
Americans seem to be always on the run and have little time for things like eating - thus the fast food empire was created. Europeans take a much more relaxed approach to life and thus "make" time for long meals and other things like 2 months vacation/year.
I will dispute the notion of Europe = better food. If you're comparing home made meals vs. McDs or KFC then you're totally right of course. Over the years I have found that the best Italian, Chinese, Japanese, etc... meals are right here in America. Mexican food - no competition. What, do you think immigrants just left their recipies at home and start eating big macs? No. Many started their own resturants here in the States and also forced grocery chains to stock the ingredients needed to make the food at home. I enjoy the diversity of foods found only here in the States.
Oh and Euro girls are typically too hairy and unwashed for my tastes, but the photo provides a great laugh. What a cow.