I was really struck by the relationship between the people of Amsterdam and their bicycles. Everywhere you go you see the simple practicality of the bicycle for urban transport and its clever adaptation for a variety of needs. I read that there is a bicycle for every resident, which is easy to believe. It makes this most beautiful and elegant city even more wonderful not having the streets choked with noisy cars and trucks. The fact that the other primary mode of transportation was the famous and beautiful canals was just perfect.