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public toilets in Italian cities
Now that the time is approaching to when I will be enroute to Italy,
some practical questions come to mind. For example, how common are public toilets in Italian cities? By public toilets, I mean not the porta-potty type or the ones that are parked in the streets, but rather the ones that you can find in malls, libraries or other public buildings. Would we have to dodge into restaurants, cafes, bars, or even hotels? I remember in one London restaurant, they charged us for the papadum (it was an Indian restaurant.) Is there some custom like that in Italy? (I would like to know--at the U.S. restaurants, breads and the likes are complimentary.) At hotels, is there a service charge--e.g. tip--which is included in the bill? If there is, I would like to know about it so I won't be so generous with the tip for the room service... Are there any additional practices that I should be aware of? Thanks in advance. Lil |
#2
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public toilets in Italian cities
"Lil" wrote in message om... Now that the time is approaching to when I will be enroute to Italy, some practical questions come to mind. For example, how common are public toilets in Italian cities? By public toilets, I've never seen porta potties here, but I may be innocent. There are some strictl;y publi toilets, but all you need to know is that every bar must have a toilet and must let you use it. It doesn't have to be a nice one, but there must be one. |
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public toilets in Italian cities
Public toilets (in railway stations, airports, big malls, gas stations and
"others"...) often have a small dish where to leave some coins for the "toilet lady". In the central part of the cities there are often "automatic" public toilets. With a coin or two you can use it for a certain amount of time... But I never used them, they scare me a lot what if I should stay locked in it?? what if the door should open right in the middle of my "bussiness"?? )) Still you can always rely on bars and "caffè"... The central ones usually have nice toilets with sink and mirror... A small tip: I usually ask for a cappuccino or an "freshly squeezed orange juice" and while they prepare it I go to the toilet. bon voyage! Braque "Lil" ha scritto nel messaggio om... Now that the time is approaching to when I will be enroute to Italy, some practical questions come to mind. For example, how common are public toilets in Italian cities? By public toilets, I mean not the porta-potty type or the ones that are parked in the streets, but rather the ones that you can find in malls, libraries or other public buildings. Would we have to dodge into restaurants, cafes, bars, or even hotels? I remember in one London restaurant, they charged us for the papadum (it was an Indian restaurant.) Is there some custom like that in Italy? (I would like to know--at the U.S. restaurants, breads and the likes are complimentary.) At hotels, is there a service charge--e.g. tip--which is included in the bill? If there is, I would like to know about it so I won't be so generous with the tip for the room service... Are there any additional practices that I should be aware of? Thanks in advance. Lil |
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public toilets in Italian cities
On Sat, 13 Dec 2003 09:17:29 GMT, "[ B r a q u e ]"
wrote: [snip] In the central part of the cities there are often "automatic" public toilets. With a coin or two you can use it for a certain amount of time... But I never used them, they scare me a lot what if I should stay locked in it?? what if the door should open right in the middle of my "bussiness"?? )) I had an amusing incident recently. I was eating with a friend in a small restaurant in Italy which had only one other table occupied. I went to the toilet, which was on a lower floor, and found myself locked in. The key turned, but missed turning the lock mechanism. I tried numerous times, and also tried banging on the door, but no one heard me. I didn't know how long it would take before my companion sent out a search party. So I called directory information on my cell phone and got the phone number of the restaurant. The directory operator offered to send me a text message with all the information about the restaurant, but I told her, "Look, I'm locked in the toilet at this restaurant and I just want the phone number." She laughed and gave it to me. ----------- Barbara Vaughan My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero dot it I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup |
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Bread in Italian Restaurants (Was public toilets in Italian cities)
On 12 Dec 2003 21:30:59 -0800 Lil said...
I remember in one London restaurant, they charged us for the papadum (it was an Indian restaurant.) Is there some custom like that in Italy? (I would like to know--at the U.S. restaurants, breads and the likes are complimentary.) Standard with most Italian restaurants is a cover charge ("Coperta") which will include bread. Expect to pay about EUR 1 to 1.5 per person. Going back to charging for papadums, not surprise in central London. In my own experience in areas where you'll find an abundance of Curry/Balti restaurants (or houses) for instance around Brick Lane in East London, certain parts of Birmingham then often papadums are "on the house". -- Phil Richards London |
#6
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public toilets in Italian cities
"Lil" wrote in message om... Now that the time is approaching to when I will be enroute to Italy, some practical questions come to mind. For example, how common are public toilets in Italian cities? By public toilets, I mean not the porta-potty type or the ones that are parked in the streets, but rather the ones that you can find in malls, libraries or other public buildings. Would we have to dodge into restaurants, cafes, bars, or even hotels? I remember in one London restaurant, they charged us for the papadum (it was an Indian restaurant.) Is there some custom like that in Italy? (I would like to know--at the U.S. restaurants, breads and the likes are complimentary.) At hotels, is there a service charge--e.g. tip--which is included in the bill? If there is, I would like to know about it so I won't be so generous with the tip for the room service... Are there any additional practices that I should be aware of? Thanks in advance. Lil Besides the already mentioned bars -they indeed must have a toilet and must serve water for free by law- you'll find very clean toilets in shopping malls and larger stores like DIY and supermarkets. But normally you have a caffè and do your thing. Ronald www.mulazzo.nl |
#7
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Bread in Italian Restaurants
Phil Richards wrote:
Going back to charging for papadums, not surprise in central London. In my own experience in areas where you'll find an abundance of Curry/Balti restaurants (or houses) for instance around Brick Lane in East London, certain parts of Birmingham then often papadums are "on the house". I think I'm correct in saying that the curry mile at Rusholme (Manchester) has the highest concentration of Curry/Balti restaurants in Europe, and they _do_ tend to charge for papadums. David -- David Horne- (website under reconstruction) davidhorne (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk |
#8
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Bread in Italian Restaurants
In article 1g5wmdh.3lbrh12yvpn4N%this_address_is_for_spam@ya hoo.co.uk,
(David Horne) wrote: I think I'm correct in saying that the curry mile at Rusholme (Manchester) has the highest concentration of Curry/Balti restaurants in Europe, and they _do_ tend to charge for papadums. That's my experience in, I think, every or nearly every British Indian restaurant I've been to - perhaps because papadums are considered a kind of "pre-starter" rather than an accompaniment in the manner of bread. |
#9
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Bread in Italian Restaurants
wrote:
In article 1g5wmdh.3lbrh12yvpn4N%this_address_is_for_spam@ya hoo.co.uk, (David Horne) wrote: I think I'm correct in saying that the curry mile at Rusholme (Manchester) has the highest concentration of Curry/Balti restaurants in Europe, and they _do_ tend to charge for papadums. That's my experience in, I think, every or nearly every British Indian restaurant I've been to - perhaps because papadums are considered a kind of "pre-starter" rather than an accompaniment in the manner of bread. Yes- what's usually "free" are the pickles etc. that go along with it. David -- David Horne- (website under reconstruction) davidhorne (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk |
#10
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Bread in Italian Restaurants (Was public toilets in Italian cities)
It is not Coperta ( Blanket in italian) but COPERTO..
it is in all restaurants. and it is between 1.5 to 3 eur depending on the restaurant. "Phil Richards" ha scritto nel messaggio ... On 12 Dec 2003 21:30:59 -0800 Lil said... I remember in one London restaurant, they charged us for the papadum (it was an Indian restaurant.) Is there some custom like that in Italy? (I would like to know--at the U.S. restaurants, breads and the likes are complimentary.) Standard with most Italian restaurants is a cover charge ("Coperta") which will include bread. Expect to pay about EUR 1 to 1.5 per person. Going back to charging for papadums, not surprise in central London. In my own experience in areas where you'll find an abundance of Curry/Balti restaurants (or houses) for instance around Brick Lane in East London, certain parts of Birmingham then often papadums are "on the house". -- Phil Richards London |
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