"What's the most extraordinary country in Europe?", Fowler asks. "Why?"

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Jun 10th, 2000, 03:58 AM

#21

Sjoerd

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Sheila, you are the second person I "meet" that finds the Netherlands "boring". The first was a proto-typical American accountant.

Need I say more? (anyway, welcome to Amsterdam. If you are bored with Amsterdam, you are bored with life!)

Jun 10th, 2000, 04:19 AM

#22

Sheila

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Sjoerd I resemble that remark! (do malapropisms translate?) I like Amsterdam; but I'm definitely more of a country person than a city person. Some Dutch towns are nice; some are less nice- nothing extraordinary there. I like mountains- not exactly a high point in favout of the Netherlands. I like birdwatching- now, they have got birds, but because of pollution the species range and numbers are not as good as it should be; and the inexorable similarity of the habitat means that there is not the range you get in, say France, or Germany; and being between Holland and the Atlantic, we tend to get most of the passerines. The weather's almost as bad as here I've been. I'd go back; but I don't feel a strong urge. Sorry!

Jun 10th, 2000, 06:15 AM

#23

s.fowler

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If you use Wes' criteria for "extraordinary", then it is the Netherlands, hands down. I visited in the 70's -- with the attitude that we should see what was to see we explored a polder that was under construction, went to the enclosing dike and generally got a sense of the fortitude of the nation. We did have a car and were staying in Laren [near Hilversum]so it was easy for us. It was a unique "spin" on a trip - no regrets

Jun 10th, 2000, 10:55 AM

#24

Geoff

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Holland may have an extraordinary way of having been built, but perhaps that's why it's not so exciting to many. Almost all of Holland is man made. That has the benefits of being interesting on its own and I certainly find Amsterdam a wonderful place to eat. But to me there's little natural beauty to it. A truely extraordinary destination would have both man made and natural beauty. From this I have to ask if you've ever been to Iceland. Now there is an extraordinary place. Islands that didn't exist 10 years ago, a country without the need for a hot water heater in the house, everything from playing golf at midnight to some of the cleanest air in the world. I have to think its hard to compete in terms of "extraordinary" with a volcano.