Every street has parked cars wedged together like sardines and bicycle lanes on both sides that usually have a good number of cyclists traveling them. And they drive like crazy people! They bicycle very fast. Sometimes at a stoplight, there may be 20 or more who are on their way somewhere. Turning right is an adventure. You have to inch over into their lane and you HAVE to make sure there is no one coming up on your right that you might kill. I have seen more than a few bicyclists scold car drivers for what they feel is an infraction.
Not only that, but you have to watch for bicyclists coming from every other direction and then there are the pedestrians! You think you have looked in every direction for cars and bicycles, and when you put your foot on the pedal, you nearly mow down an innocent person out for a stroll.
Most cars are quite small. So you can't see very high. As we come out of our parking lot, we really can't see cars coming from the right or left, and we REALLY can't see bicyclists coming at 60 miles an hour from either direction. So we inch out onto the road and I just kind of close my eyes and pray.
Even though most cars are quite small, parking is also a great adventure. Our little parking lot looks barely big enough to park about 8 cars, but there are at least 12 parked there regularly. So we get into the car to leave and have to make a series of maneuvers to get out of our little parking spot without taking out any other little autos, or crunching our own bumpers etc. Once again, I close my eyes and pray.
I can't tell you how many times he seems to be turning on a dime and I just know he is going to hit that other little car in front of us...I watch waiting for the cracking bending denting sounds and they never happen. He has no idea how often I just close my eyes and hope a lot. By the way, it is the same when Brother Hansen drives...wow! How do they avoid so many collisions?
Today, at our Danish course, we got a perfect parking spot right in front of the school (highly unusual) and SK parallel parked with such finesse that I was left in awe! It's a good thing he still likes to be at the wheel, because I will never drive in Copenhagen.
A lot to be said for walking and taking the bus! Stan is brave! Another reason you need prayers!
ReplyDeleteHe IS brave, and he is a good driver with good reflexes and he also is very aware of what is going on outside the car at any given time. So we are blessed. I am sure that it is no different than driving in New York or any other large city. But the roads are narrower here, and ....well it is an adventure! Both SK and Bro. Hansen are very good drivers. I don't know what we would do without them.
ReplyDeleteWell, it's a good thing he's a professional driver. When we were in NY I thought the same thing about all the pedestrians! Every time we were in a taxi I just knew we were going to hit someone. And it seemed nearly impossible to make a turn with all the pedestrians and cars! When we come visit, I'm thinking we'll just walk. :)
ReplyDeleteWalking around here is a joy....and there are so many places to walk TO! You will love it.
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