How to understand the people?

That's the question I'm asking myself.  

We're set to wander on our bikes through the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany and France.....but how do you get to understand what makes these nations tick, what the people of these nations think and worry about and how do they see my own country?

Being on a bike we'll be travelling at a human pace, so that will help. We're going to be plugging into the Warmshowers network of people across the world happy to host a cycle touring for the might.  That'll help too.  What other things can we do to get under the skim of a country?  "stopping at cafés" I hear Biddy shouting.  Yep, I guess we could try that. "and keeping our eyes and ears open".  Yep, that too.

I'll let you know if I discover anything.