>>I liked the comment about the car parking. Is that a rule in the USA ?.
>
>I imagine so. I don't remember ever seeing cars parked facing in opposite directions on the same side of the street.

As someone who drove both here and there, I see no reason to avoid parking on your left side apart from the incoming traffic from both directions, and probably a thick white line in the middle, no matter which country is around you. But in the US it's rather impractical, as most of the streets are just too wide and busy. Most of the old european cities, however, have enough of these small streets where there's not much other traffic but just the locals and those looking for a spot to park. Actually, that's exactly what I did today - simply because there was ample room on that side, street is sufficiently narrow and there were no cars around for at least 20m, so why not.

>One thing she said that made me smile was that although Czechs are not noticeably out of shape, you don't generally see them overtly exercising. She was told that if you see someone running outside, they're American.

The word "džoger" first means a mop (the kind with a sponge and a lever to squeeze it) but for the last 30 years it also means those lone runners. I see some of them when driving to my garden in the village, the road is not too busy so they're rather safe running on the side.

But they are just a few - most people stay in shape simply by virtue of living in a human sized city, where most of your points of interest are in walkable distance and they do walk a lot, or use public transportation (where they mostly don't sit). That's better exercise - you are on the move many times a day, on your feet several hours. Better than getting yourself stuffed with processed food and then hoping a couple of hours of exercise will burn the extra.

Though I've started seeing that type of obesity here as well. Fast food coming fast.