Pedestrian

Posted in Sidewalk Lyrics | 8 Comments

8 Responses to “The Big Job”

1. on 08 Oct 2009 at 1:54 am1parvati_roma

   lol! Rome’s full of hand-written “gabinetto guasto” (literally “ruined cabinet” – means toilet not working) signs on locked toilets in railway stations, coffee-bars etc- maybe if they followed the Iranian selective-use-only principle they could keep at least some of them open?
   Tip-off for tourists in Rome: in some cases – especially in coffeebars – the “guasto” toilet actually works perfectly well but they don’t want “just anyone” drifting in from the street and using it – also would rather like a tip! So if you “look respectable”, buy a coffee, leave a wee tip then smile nicely and ask the cashier “do you have a toilet please?” you get given a key and the sign gets temporarily-removed …

2. on 08 Oct 2009 at 6:08 am2Yseut

   Weekly oscar of pedestrian fun !
   At least it shows for the seriousness and concern of the team
   running the place -well done !

3. on 08 Oct 2009 at 8:27 am3Pedestrian

   parvati, one of my lifelong dreams is to visit Rome – your tip will come in very, VERY handy!

   Yseut, they were pretty smart people … at least if you’re dying to go and find out that you can’t, you’ll get a laugh out of it!

4. on 08 Oct 2009 at 9:13 am4parvati_roma

   Iran fascinates me – so we can look forward to swapping visits!

5. on 08 Oct 2009 at 9:30 am5Pedestrian

   It’s a deal! I’ll give you a tour, and you can give me one!

6. on 08 Oct 2009 at 9:44 am6Yseut

   Pedestrian, Parvati
   well actually, it’s an interesting angle here, life and story of public
   toilets of the world… One thing sure is that these collective equipments in Europe (Toilets, Public baths) have disappeared from the urban landscape as a rule (they were numerous in my youth, at least in France and Italy and Spain) Clean toilets halls disseminated in the city, managed by one or two persons, now replaced by these paying silly-ugly prefab booths, forever out of of service and stinking. Only in main train stations of capitals can you be sure to find decent WC and showers now (and you’re lucky, those of Roma Centrale are brand new and shining ;- ) ) -And in Paris as well mind you, they apply the same trick in the cafés, put an ‘Out of service’ pannel to simplify the whole process regarding any demand -so, just the same, ask if toilets ‘are really’ OoS when paying the check (and leave tip if it’s a yes for you to use’em). Moral of this is every worth and practical aspects of public ’services’ in cities everywhere either disappeared or got privatized -result, basic things such as going to pee (or more ) became a problem -and unfortunately a strong
   piss smell prevails in much parts of many western towns ! Isn’t
   post-modern civilization a kick ?

7. on 08 Oct 2009 at 10:56 am7Pedestrian

   My friends laugh at me for this … But there are very few things I enjoy more than a clean, well-lighted public bathroom. I think it’s a sign of humanity.

8. on 08 Oct 2009 at 11:30 am8Yseut

   Yes, definitely a DISTINCTIVE one sign…

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