I have also lived in Europe and am in fact married to a Swiss woman. I have seen first-hand, in Germany and France and Switzerland, how cities are transformed after dark to very dangerous places. I have seen this in Paris, where well-known tourist destinations become havens for all kinds of vice after dark. I have been in German train stations at night, when gangs ran wild with no police in sight. And even in genteel Switzerland the cities become dangerous after dark, and the police refuse to help. I have seen this first-hand. All very much different than in America. You have to experience it to believe it.
For an example. one time my family and I were out at night in a medium-size city in Switzerland, when we came across a person in obvious distress, lying on the ground. Several people were standing around. My Swiss wife went to call for help, but what was she told? The police immediately questioned her last name, which was not typically Swiss. “Who are you and why are you calling?” It was in a questionable area of town, and they had no interest in responding to a call for help. We got out of there and don’t know if an ambulance ever arrived. How different than in America!
For an example. one time my family and I were out at night in a medium-size city in Switzerland, when we came across a person in obvious distress, lying on the ground. Several people were standing around. My Swiss wife went to call for help, but what was she told? The police immediately questioned her last name, which was not typically Swiss. “Who are you and why are you calling?” It was in a questionable area of town, and they had no interest in responding to a call for help. We got out of there and don’t know if an ambulance ever arrived. How different than in America!
35 + years ago I was in Amsterdam. Made it back to the youth hostel late (3 am?) - passing by all of the homeless(?) drunks scattered all over the place amidst the litter in the nice squares. Left to catch a train the following morning - the sun barely up - maybe 6:00 am?
The squares were empty of bums and litter, with the pavement still wet from the street sweepers. Was REALLY weird! (Soylent Green!?)