tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5244275961793143825.post6520140071927471486..comments2023-11-25T18:02:19.234+00:00Comments on Seeker: Toilet ReviewNancy Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08414597433860002332noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5244275961793143825.post-61370097400510930522012-07-21T09:22:22.256+01:002012-07-21T09:22:22.256+01:00I remember the black-clad crones in France. I reme...I remember the black-clad crones in France. I remember one place in particular where she sold you a piece or two of toilet paper to ladies standing in the queue awaiting their turn in a cubicle (with squat and squirt toilet). But this was a long time ago.Nancy Wallacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08414597433860002332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5244275961793143825.post-5805401537722121452012-07-20T17:38:51.236+01:002012-07-20T17:38:51.236+01:00Yeek! I'd choose Sustainable loo 3 over loo 2...Yeek! I'd choose Sustainable loo 3 over loo 2 any day; the potential for terminal embarrassment with the latter is just too great. <br /><br />Re the rest of Europe - we lived in France from the early to late 1990s and can honestly say that the 'facilities' there aren't nearly as horrific as the British often make them out to be. Well, almost...the Gare de Lyon doesn't exactly smell of ashes of roses - though that might be from folk peeing on the platforms. But in general the loos aren't bad at all; IMO the days of the smelly 'squat 'n squirt' guarded by a black-clad crone are long gone. OK, I remember a few old grumps, but after the city's facilities were privatised, they couldn't do enough for you: flowers, smiles, hovering outside the cubicles waiting to polish the seat between customers...Greenpatcheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14495818303604543217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5244275961793143825.post-42723962471903477902012-07-19T15:53:32.013+01:002012-07-19T15:53:32.013+01:00Good point Ray - an interesting area to research m...Good point Ray - an interesting area to research maybe. Is it something about the national psyche? Cultural conditioning? Education? And how far back does this go?Nancy Wallacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08414597433860002332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5244275961793143825.post-9328280156521622712012-07-19T12:18:18.161+01:002012-07-19T12:18:18.161+01:00But then surely Nancy, that would apply to the res...But then surely Nancy, that would apply to the rest of Europe, much of which appears to feel no such obligation.Ray Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09209429097744326143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5244275961793143825.post-49332530220553386232012-07-19T12:02:31.736+01:002012-07-19T12:02:31.736+01:00Ray - I wonder if it is simply due to the fact tha...Ray - I wonder if it is simply due to the fact that the tourist industry is such a major part of the Austrian economy that it's important to keep standards high. It's also a very competitive industry. If you own a guest house and have a large bank loan for your most recent extension you can't afford to let standards slip.Nancy Wallacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08414597433860002332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5244275961793143825.post-64373528122368963282012-07-19T11:55:36.789+01:002012-07-19T11:55:36.789+01:00Relax! I've visited lots of loos in Austria, i...Relax! I've visited lots of loos in Austria, including Zell am See, and have never encountered another like the one at Fulpmes Bahnhof. In any case at 15 years old there are often occasions for embarrassment aren't there? There were for me anyway. Thanks for commenting. Yes I did have a lovely break - feel a new woman. As you see I haven't posted much lately, but intend to get back into the swing. I find blogging frequently takes much less time than occasionally - strange but true for me.Nancy Wallacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08414597433860002332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5244275961793143825.post-3891862129040863332012-07-19T11:26:26.451+01:002012-07-19T11:26:26.451+01:00I too have 'experienced' some of the ultra...I too have 'experienced' some of the ultra hygienic loo facilities in Austria, and while I appreciate the value of the experience, (particularly when compared to other nameless parts of Europe), I cannot help but wonder why?<br />Not that I am in any sense a psychiatrist or pschyologist, but it occurs to me that outer cleanliness, particularly taken to extremes, might, just might, be a reflection of historical guilt and the need to be seen to be 'clean'.<br />Just a thought.Ray Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09209429097744326143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5244275961793143825.post-2451368060401087992012-07-19T10:46:44.241+01:002012-07-19T10:46:44.241+01:00Oh crumbs, No 2 has me worried! Son (aged 15) spen...Oh crumbs, No 2 has me worried! Son (aged 15) spends a lot more than 5 mins in any loo, and is currently in Austria on a school music tour - in fact playing at Zell am See today. I wonder now if he's been covered in embarrassment at any point whilst he's been away. Shall find out Saturday.<br /><br />Glad you had a lovely break and look forward to more entertaining and thought provoking posts.ramtopsrachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01125522822674962696noreply@blogger.com