I’ve seen a lot of adequate but unentertaining toilets in Paris. That’s not Paris’ fault, it’s just that when we were traveling around the world the toilets were a constant source of joy or perplexity. Like the one in China where the attendant asked everyone if they were going to do Number 1 or Number 2, because the plumbing could only handle Number 1. Or the toilets in Japan, with heated seats, built-in bidet, tushee blow dryer, and a fake flushing noise so you could cover up the sound of your pee-pee. Scroll through my Toilet Gallery when you get a chance...
Toilets really tell you what a society values, and how they make those values real in the most humble and mundane of situations. Think of it your toilet experience as a societal barometer.
On my recent trip to Salzburg, I encountered one of the most beautiful toilets I’ve seen. I went to the Hotel Sacher Cafe to eat Sacher Torte. This is a piece of chocolate cake with a thin layer of apricot jam under the glossy chocolate ganache. It comes with a sizeable blob of whipped cream. I also had a melange, which is Austrian cappuccino, with another blob of whipped cream. When in Austria...
Before I left, I went to the bathroom. First you go down this shiny black and white stairwell. Then you enter the bathroom, with its gold wallpaper and spick-n-span clean accoutrements. The hand towels are embossed with the hotel’s logo. It was super posh.
Toilets really tell you what a society values, and how they make those values real in the most humble and mundane of situations. Think of it your toilet experience as a societal barometer.
On my recent trip to Salzburg, I encountered one of the most beautiful toilets I’ve seen. I went to the Hotel Sacher Cafe to eat Sacher Torte. This is a piece of chocolate cake with a thin layer of apricot jam under the glossy chocolate ganache. It comes with a sizeable blob of whipped cream. I also had a melange, which is Austrian cappuccino, with another blob of whipped cream. When in Austria...
Before I left, I went to the bathroom. First you go down this shiny black and white stairwell. Then you enter the bathroom, with its gold wallpaper and spick-n-span clean accoutrements. The hand towels are embossed with the hotel’s logo. It was super posh.
The mirror was spotless. There was no paper towel mess. There were no tiny pieces of toilet paper on the floor. You know what there also wasn’t? A hook on the door to hang my coat and purse on. I made do with the door handle. It took me a minute.
I love Austria. It is my favorite country in the world, and if I can swing it I’ll live there someday. Not all their toilets are as classy as this one, but it’s nice to know they’ve set the standard high.
I love Austria. It is my favorite country in the world, and if I can swing it I’ll live there someday. Not all their toilets are as classy as this one, but it’s nice to know they’ve set the standard high.