h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Then please, for your own sanity, don't go to France

That reminds me, I heard of one English lady who wrote to her travel agent, complaining about the plumbing in the French hotels she had stayed in. 'Whenever I turned on the tap clearly marked 'C', scalding hot water inevitably poured out. This problem was never fixed even though I complained on numerous occasions.'

The thing I *really* don't like about French lavatorial systems is the toilet paper, which seems to be ultra-thin paper specially waxed for the purpose of avoiding absorbancy, and is thus both painful and useless.

I always wondered why anyone supplied or used that toilet paper. In school we had it and found it more useful as a cheap source of tracing paper.

It's really unpleasant stuff. I used to know someone who actually bought this stuff to use at home. It takes all sorts I suppose.

If you think the hotel staff are discourtous in France, then run in terror at any proposition to stay in Alexandria, Virginia. Alexandria takes on the overflow guests from Washington DC and you can tell thay put effort into making your stay as unpleasant as possible. On one trip, I was woken up three times by the security guard. Once at midnight because someone nearby heard a toilet flush, again at 2 AM because someone heard a kettle whistle, and again at three AM, security came into my room, searched my belongings, spilled hot tea on my laptop, emptied all the little bottles of shampoo, and then appologized for having searched the right room, but on the wrong floor.

Why did you let them in the room in the first place, and what were they looking for?

I was forced to let them in. They kind of unlocked the door, and I was asleep (standing up, I do that sometimes) when they searched the place.

Hmm, what can be done in those instances is to refuse to pay the bill. In Britain it's legal to pay only what you think a meal is worth when the bill comes in a restaurant; if it was terrible but expensive, you only need pay a fraction of the bill.
I've never known this occur though, no matter how bad the meal is; We British would never have the nerve to do so!!

Back to the plumbing ...
I recall a small French hotel. The taps on the bath were labelled:

HOT and
CHAUD .

Both (eventually) disgorged cold yellow water.

I will spend all of next week in a British hotel (in Oakham Leicesthershire). Not only do I dread attending four 9-5 computer systems demonstrations, now I also dread a not so relaxing bath in the evening... I will let you know how it went if you are interested.

Tjing,
Milla

It will probably go down the plughole ... but do let us know anyway!

While on a School trip in Russia, i decided to wash!(shock, horror). amazingly the showers actually worked! i was able to get a satisfcatory shower out of it. in Russia of all places. i was, amazed.

I had forgotten this thread!

But the shower remains in my mind... I never dared try it, so I stuck to baths for the week!

It had hot and cold taps, separate, of course. Then you turned one handle to direct water to the shower. And then there was a box. It had a power cord dangling outside the shower - so I think you should pull it, to activate something. It was called a booster of some sort. I am only guessing it would make the water spray harder... But hot baths are my favourite, especially without my children - I had a luxurious time without showers!

tjing
Milla