If you’ve been hanging around my blog for a while, you’ll know that the hubster and I had a fabulous holiday in Europe earlier this year to mark the occasion of our 25th wedding anniversary.
I’ve shared countless photos and favourite memories from our trip – so it may come as a bit of a surprise to learn that there were actually a couple of things I didn’t like about Europe.
I Must Confess, the two things I didn’t like about Europe were the constant haze of cigarette smoke, and the lack of public toilets.
Things I Didn’t Like About Europe #1 – Cigarette Smoking
When I first started working in an office back in 1987, it was with quite a number of chain smokers. At the end of the day my hair and clothes would reek of cigarette smoke, despite the fact that I personally didn’t puff – and heaven only knows the effect all that passive smoking had on my lungs!
However, over the years smoking has fallen out of favour here in Australia; it’s considered almost downright anti-social. First it was banished from our workplaces … and on it continued, so that now we have the lovely smoke-free environment we all enjoy today – at schools, restaurants, hospitals, shops, etc.
It’s easy to forget just how lucky we are, because the thing is, it’s not like that in Europe.
People smoke *everywhere*. Many was the time we’d be in a cafe or restaurant, only to have the person at the next table light up. Gross! Everywhere we went was the stench of cigarette smoke; it really irritated my eyes, nose and throat. In fact one bar on our cruise ship was so bad, we avoided it if at all possible.
Things I Didn’t Like About Europe #2 – The Lack of Public Toilets
I never realised before how blessed we are in Australia. Public toilets are generally easy to find, free, and regularly cleaned and maintained.
Or perhaps you disagree … if that’s the case, I suspect you’ve never been to Europe!
First of all, you have to spend a penny to well, spend a penny – or 50p or Euro or whatever (NOW the graffiti on the back of toilet doors of my youth makes sense: Here I sit so broken hearted, paid a penny but only farted!). Secondly, there are very very few of them; and thirdly, even though you have to pay, they are so grotty you avoid them if at all possible!
Apparently local councils in Europe have some arrangement with the cafes, that the general public can use their facilities without being a customer. However being first time visitors to Europe, we had no idea until a kind hotel receptionist explained this to us!
When the hubster and I were wandering the streets of Mallorca, I needed to go to the loo. We saw a sign so headed in the direction it pointed until we saw the next sign … and so on and so forth. It felt a bit like we were going on a wild goose chase, because bit by bit those signs were taking us well away from the beaten track. Would you believe, the public toilet ended up being one unisex cubicle, in the bowels of a city carpark?! We’d never seen anything like it!
Do you have any traveller’s tales about things you didn’t like about Europe – or other places you’ve visited?!
Linking up with My Home Truths.
Yes I had an annoying person sitting behind me on a ferry smoking a cigar! But I have to say that smoking in Europe was an even bigger problem about 15 years ago. Apart from the cigar man, we didn’t really encounter it. In fact, e-cigarettes (vaporizers) are more popular over there than here which I was really surprised about!
Toilets- I didn’t mind paying because the ones we used were really clean. Maybe it depends on the country?!
If they’d been clean I wouldn’t have minded paying but sadly that wasn’t the case. At least smoking was banned in hotel rooms or I’d really have been stuffed – it really gets my allergies going!
Totally agree with you on these two. I also dislike that the cafe and restaurant toilets are usually down steep, skinny, dark stairs. At least you mostly find a loo at the bottom. I find I go just in case when I find a loo in case I can’t later. Annoying.
Fran, my nickname is “Jolly Juicy Janet” and has been since I was a toddler, I always seem to need to go to the loo. Yet despite drinking plenty of water, I managed surprisingly well while we were away – thank goodness!
Having just returned from our European holiday I 100% agree with this post. There were so many times that we would sit down to eat and then someone would light up a cigarette. The worst was on Cinque Terra where the couple next to us chain smoked the whole meal. In the end we just had to get up as soon as we finished eating as it was making me ill.
The toilet situation was ‘interesting’ not only the lack of them, but when you did find one they either didn’t have a toilet seat or they were a squat toilet. I avoided them like the plague and found that if I didn’t have my normal quota of tea I coped reasonably well.
I don’t think I had a decent cup of tea the whole time we were away so that probably saved me from a lot of problems too!
I just want to travel, so I can write about what I do and don’t like about traveling. LOL so bloody envious, as you know.
Raych I’m amazed I am still getting posts out of our trip even now, 4+ months later … although gradually they’re drying up … I only have a couple more planned! And I’m sure your turn will come 🙂
We do complain about public toilets in Australia but I agree with you, the ones in Europe can be revolting. I wouldn’t want to work on them!
Yup pretty gross … maybe they should make criminals in jail do it, now THAT would be punishment!
I have to agree with you on those points – we really are lucky here in Australia. The other thing I found hard in Europe was the chaos on the roads. So glad I never had to drive there – it was bonkers, particularly in Italy!
We didn’t drive at all during our trip and have to say I’m rather glad about that!
When I was last in Europe, I was one of these smokers so it never bothered me at all. The toilets is a different story. I hate hate hate public toilets but when you have to go it is nice to at least find ONE… I would deb so much worse now that I am older.
I wonder how you’d go now Natalie, they say reformed smokers find it even more offensive than non-smokers?!
You are absolutely right – the smoking was horrible and the toilets were so different to ours. I have to admit that I didn’t like Paris – I found the dogs poo and human urine smells overwhelming and was prone to dry-retching! I love our sunburnt country. Mel xx #IMustConfess
Some of the Asian cities I’ve been to have been pretty smelly, I guess the heat and humidity wouldn’t help. We were warned that Venice can be “on the nose” but we thought it was fine.
Have been meaning to get back and read this post for ages and now that I have I’ve got to say that I couldn’t agree with you more!! Whilst I have only travelled a little of Europe both of these things drove me batty as well!!
Yes – I totally agree with you Janet. The cigarette smoking was really annoying in Italy. We found it was worst in Rome. It was particularly frustrating in restaurants! I was amused by the fact that the Italians have so many fountains which provide free water to fill you up and keep you hydrated, then they charge you to go to the loo!! We made a habit of going to the toilet wherever we ate or bought something, so we didn’t have to pay. That’s one of the great things about Australia – FREE TOILETS! 🙂
Funny you should mention Rome Lyndall, Miss 19 said exactly the same thing – that Rome was the worst for smokers!
I just love to travel, especially overseas, but it does clarify how lucky we are. Spain for me was one of the worst for cigarette smoke. Are Europeans immune to smoking related cancers or do they just not care?? Paying for toilet paper was another issue for me. I’d pay and get two pieces. You’ve got to be kidding! So, I’d ask for more and the attendant would scowl at me. What can you do with two pieces of toilet paper?!? We’re still the lucky country.
Oh my goodness I didn’t come across the toilet paper issue! I’d be carrying tissues in my handbag at all times if that was the case 🙂