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When you see this title, maybe you will ask yourself why Shirley would choose this sort of thing to write about. Actually, the washroom is one of the most important considerations for a traveller, especially when you travel by road. Last year I travelled through 8 countries and more than 3300 miles in Europe, from Paris to Rome. As soon as we stopped at a service station the guide would remind everyone to go to the washroom because there may not be any more services for two or three hours.
When we got to Italy I noticed a change in the washrooms. Most of them had foot operated valves for the water so that guests didn¡¯t have to touch anything after washing their hands, which was cleaner and more convenient for people. Also, in Venice, I saw the best washroom administration that I had ever seen.
In Europe it is common to have to pay a fee to use the washroom, but on the shores of the Bay of the Adriatic Sea there is a different way of administering it. When you go into the washroom there, it is just like entering a big, clean and beautiful hall, there are many windows in a line. You have to buy a small card at a window, which cost 1000 lira, and then use this card to operate a gate to let you in. It¡¯s like going through the barrier at a subway station except that the ticket is far more beautiful. Of course, the water taps here were also foot operated, and there were many white chairs with carved patterns on them which were placed among trees and flowers for the people entering or leaving the washroom to sit on.
When you read this, what do you think of the business view of the Italians? I¡¯m sure that we can learn a lot from a little thing like a foot operated water valve, and a small but beautiful reusable card and comfortable chairs set among green trees and flowers¡.. Do you agree?
--Shirley
(Written on 17th.,June,2001; Edited on 14th.,Oct.,2004)
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Travel Diaries
