A lesson on toilets

   So I have been completely spoiled by the Bavarian toilets . They are so Spick  and span you think mr. clean himself works at every public toilet . Often , just incase he didn't make it in there before your arrival a toilet brush is provided and also disinfectant in every stall.  

   Well I'm in Italy. Twice in one day I open the door and find a toilet with no toilet seat. Ok we'll I can squat I guess , but twice no locking door And the added disadvantage of no door that locks  , So that means I'm squatting, holding on to to the door knob for dear life and trying to manage with one hand to pull the little squares of toilet paper Out of the holder. Then the light goes off randomly. This is complicated. 

   I propose if you are planning a visit to Italy soon brushing up on some squats so your legs are super strong may be a good idea.  You will undoubtedly need this strength.  

  The worst toilets thankfully you come across less often. It's nothing more than a hole in the ground with a sink type thing built around it with two grated slots for your feet. I don't know about you ladies out there, but for me I never have luck with a straight shot. So throw in the added pressure of trying to aim your pee in that tiny hole and what ends up happening is a ricochet from one leg to the other. Finally by the time the pee makes it to the hole half of it is on my ankles.  This really is not good. Then to make matters worse I flush and water floods the darn thing so fast I'm jumping up and down trying to escape getting splashed by the toilet water because I don't trust that its just my stuff in there. Panic sets in as I hurry to open the door but the stall is so small I have to pull the door in towards the flushing hole of hell and inevitably feel yet more liquid splashing my ankles. This is really not good. By the time I evacuate the stall I'm swearing, sweating, and completely grossed out. The sign by the sink says , don't wash your feet in the sink. Ugh I always follow the rules , I totally would have bathed in the sink if i didn't see that sign. Heaven forbid you ever need to drop the kids off at the pool in one if those things. So if you judge a country by its toilets Italy may not rank to high on the totem poll. But in every other way it surpasses all if your expectations . The food the people the history and beautiful landscape , the wine Capitol of the world , amazing cheese coffee . You name it its got it. ( except toilet seats) and the people are loud like us!!! Finally. For weeks we travelled in places that close up house by 5 in the evening and are tucked in bed by 9. Even in the day time they whisper and we stand out like a elephant In a lingerie store because no matter how hard we try we are noisy, we are five people with the energy of fifty and  are capable of breaking sound barriers wherever we go. So hello Italy here we are . We love you.