Florence and Toilets

January 7, 2010

Okay, everyone from Samantha Brown to every experienced traveler has commented on the lack of public toilet in Florence and that even when there are toilets to be found they’re more along the lines of the two footprints and a hole.

My big adventure with the footprint commode was in a little village on the ascent into Jerusalem. When I asked an elderly woman for directions to the public toilets she pointed in the direction of an old church which for whatever reason gave me a sense of assurance that the accommodations would be all that bad. As it turned out, I entered a gigantic old church that had for at least the last two centuries been without a roof and when I entered the small cubbie space where the footprint toilet was located, I found the roof was missing there too. Now, this doesn’t seem all that bad. After all, who cares if a few birds passing overhead take a second spin over the airspace above you to get a second look? But the situation was a little more….complicated than that since the street running next to the church was built on a slope and so anyone passing along the street could look in and see you and you could see them. And sure enough, just as I was taking in the situation in mortified wonder, a mother and her three boys walked by. Suffice it to say I was the first one off the bus and running when we arrived at our Jerusalem hotel.

Now why am I mentioning this, aside from my complete lack of personal boundaries, that is? Because with our trip to Italy more than eight months away, I have already ordered and received one of the most essential travel aids we will be packing. How much do you love a feminine urination system that’s called Go Girl, and who’s motto is “Don’t Take Life Sitting Down.”

Why have I not read this suggested on any of the packing lists I’ve been reading for traveling to Italy over at SlowTravel? What’s up with that?

I’m ready for Florence, the isolated back roads of Tuscany, and for that matter hiking trails around our own Northern California.

Aside from this whole foray into the land of TMI (too much information), today I booked a three night stay in Florence for D and I at il Bargello Bed and Breakfast in Florence. I heard about il Bargello from an interview on the “How to Tour Italy” podcast and it sounded wonderful. The location is right near many of the places we want to visit such as the Duomo and the Uffizi Gallery and within walking distance of about everything else, though that seems to be generally true anywhere you stay in Florence.

Anyway, we’re sandwiching our visit to Florence into the middle of our two week stay in Montalcino, taking the train from nearby Buonconvento to Florence on a Tuesday morning and returning to Montalcino via the same means on Friday morning. I’ve been advised not to drive to Florence by those who’ve been there and had to contend with driving into the city and finding parking and being a smart little cookie I’m heeding the advise of those with more experience.

Now if they’d just take my advise on the Go Girls because….I have experience.

Posted in Italy, Travel