Le French

This weekend, I am reminded how different the French and German cultures are, in spite of, or maybe because of being close neighbours.

Germans treat regulations as a second language. The French consider them a suggestion.











The Germans use bicycles sedately to commute or wander along a city bike path.
The French have a major love-hate relationship with the bicycle - they ride through red lights, run down predestrians (the second national sport) and twist bike wheels up like bretzles for fun late at night.

Strasbourg bicycle art

The Germans just enacted a smoking ban in all public buildings. For the French, that is passé, a fait accompli - they already have non-smoking rules, merci bien, and they really don't care. Bien sûr, but coffee comes with a cigarette!