What is worse in Europe

[Fabienne]

There's this charming medieval village in the Imperia province, Italy, called Dolceacqua. As you walk your way up and around the narrow pathways, you come upon notes, handwritten by inhabitants on scraps of paper. My two favorite ones:

Don't pee here, you pig!

The cat often seen at this intersection has an owner. Please do not abduct.

Note: go past the cat's intersection, turn left, climb the mountain. Find wild thyme and a peaceful view onto the castle. Breathe.

 

[alflauren]

Originally Posted by Hanseat

I'd like to add the clock timers in bathrooms

Oh! Good one. It's not just the clock timers in the bathrooms. It's the freaking timers in the hallways. I lived on the 7th (top) floor of a Paris apartment building, and the freaking light would go out twice while I climbed to the top of the staircase. It left me fumbling in the dark on a spiral staircase of polished wood that was highly dangerous even if you could see where you were going.

The reward came at the top of the stairs though. A beautiful view of the western half of the city.

 

[RJman]

Originally Posted by Fabienne

My two favorite ones:...
The cat often seen at this intersection has an owner. Please do not abduct.
Yes, but does he have a posse?

Seen in a picturesque doorway just off Piccadilly in Mayfair: This is a private residence. Please do not urinate in doorway.

 

[Fabienne]

Originally Posted by alflauren

Oh! Good one. It's not just the clock timers in the bathrooms. It's the freaking timers in the hallways. I lived on the 7th (top) floor of a Paris apartment building, and the freaking light would go out twice while I climbed to the top of the staircase. It left me fumbling in the dark on a spiral staircase of polished wood that was highly dangerous even if you could see where you were going.

You a smoker? You're supposed to reactivate between flights of stairs, you know.

 

[Fabienne]

Originally Posted by RJman

Yes, but does he have a posse?


I met the cat. Serene and majestuous. The note was sufficient.

 

[kennethpollock]

After many bad experiences, I discovered that there are certain drinks that always seem to come with much more ice over there:
(a) In the UK, a Pimm's Cup. Not only do you get a tall drink in a glass filled with ice, you usually get a carrot stick and a stalk of celery, too.
(b) In France-a Citron Presse. Usually comes with a bowl of ice, a glass with 1-2" of freshly squeezed very tangy lemon juice concentrate at the bottom, a pitcher of water with which to dilute the juice, and several sugar cubes.

 

[Fabienne]

ca phe sua da (as served in the best Vietnamese restaurants in Europe) also features a great many ice cubes.

 

[Gherkins]

Recommended reading:
http://www.worldcitizenguide.com

 

[Kent Wang]

Originally Posted by Fabienne

I met the cat. Serene and majestuous. The note was sufficient.
I like this word.

 

[LA Guy]

Originally Posted by globetrotter

I think public bathrooms in europe are cleaner than those in the states, usually.

Depends on where in Europe. I drove with some friends from Italy into Switzerland once, from the dirtiest public washrooms anyone ever paid lira to get into to the very cleanest. Actually, in the first public washroom I went to in Switzerland, there was this little dude literally cleaning up behind me. It was very funny. I walked to wash my hands, and he mopped up the floor as I walked. Then to the urinal, same thing. Then back to the faucet, same thing. At this point, I decided that I would get my full two Franc's worth, and checked out a stall. I didn't even use it. Just closed the door and looked around. Spotless. I left the stall, and the little dude cleaned the unused toilet seat, the floor around it and quick as a flash, was behind me again.

Best use of two Swiss Francs ever.

 

[johnapril]

Spend some time on the road through Xinjiang and gain perspective on the bathroom issue.

 

[LA Guy]

Originally Posted by johnapril

Spend some time on the road through Xinjiang and gain perspective on the bathroom issue.

Yeah, but we were talking about Europe. Rural China is something else altogether. I've been on "toilets" which offer a distinctive view of the fishpond.

 

[johnapril]

Originally Posted by LA Guy

Yeah, but we were talking about Europe. Rural China is something else altogether. I've been on "toilets" which offer a distinctive view of the fishpond.

What about those toilets in Hostel? Wait, those weren't--

 

[LabelKing]

Bathrooms in Shanghai are worse enough.

 

[Tomasso]

There are crappy washrooms all over the world.