around here: dogs and kids are the norm

June 18, 2011

A walk in the park

Now that I've lived here for a month, I've become completely accustomed to seeing kids and dogs roam the city freely. This particular picture, both actually seem to be guided and controlled to an extent, but normally that's not the case.

Kids as young as seven or so, roam the city via tram and metro. Dogs, though generally not far from their owners, pee and sniff at their own discretion. Both seem to be rather friendly and tame. Unlike American children and dogs, they don't come running after you or tackle you to the ground licking your face. It's really a safety issue because tackled people in tram tracks, don't make for happy tram drivers...and we don't want them to get pissy and strike again. Or not do anything, which seems to be the norm.

Nevertheless, I took this picture because I thought it was cute. There are so many parks here, both large and small, that it makes for a really good place to raise a family, I think. Not to mention, who wouldn't want their dogs and children to come have a beer with them every now and then.