I was skeptical about Athens' ability to prepare itself for the Olympics when I learned that they had no plans for toilets down which you can actually flush toilet paper.
As for the toilets, fixing all the sewers so that you could flush toilet paper down them would require tearing up the whole city. And while they were doing that, they would inevitably find shitloads upon shitloads of ancient archeological objects that would have to be dealt with in some way (you should see the photos of what they had to go through to get subways built).
So the toilet paper goes in the trashcan next to the toilet, which is actually quite a common practice in much of the world, especially in ancient cities. And though it sounds gross, it's actually not that
bad in practice. Honest, Athens does not smell like shit. For the most part.
The common Greek response to the sneering of barbarians such as yourselves basically translates to: "While you were swinging in the trees, we were building the Parthenon!"
I know, I know. I spent 10 weeks in Greece, mostly Athens, and while it was nice to get back to a country where the sewers can accomodate toilet paper (though that country was Germany, where the toilets all seem designed to let you inspect your stool easily), it wasn't a big deal or anything. But I expect that a decent proportion of people descending on the city either won't know, or will forget, that they're not supposed to flush paper down the toilet, with sexy results!
I do recall that they were doing something about the dogs, though, probably inhumane.
I was skeptical about Athens' ability to prepare itself for the Olympics when I learned that they had no plans for toilets down which you can actually flush toilet paper.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07-12-04 3:28 PM
As for the toilets, fixing all the sewers so that you could flush toilet paper down them would require tearing up the whole city. And while they were doing that, they would inevitably find shitloads upon shitloads of ancient archeological objects that would have to be dealt with in some way (you should see the photos of what they had to go through to get subways built).
So the toilet paper goes in the trashcan next to the toilet, which is actually quite a common practice in much of the world, especially in ancient cities. And though it sounds gross, it's actually not that
bad in practice. Honest, Athens does not smell like shit. For the most part.
The common Greek response to the sneering of barbarians such as yourselves basically translates to: "While you were swinging in the trees, we were building the Parthenon!"
Posted by Mitch Mills | Link to this comment | 07-12-04 4:33 PM
I know, I know. I spent 10 weeks in Greece, mostly Athens, and while it was nice to get back to a country where the sewers can accomodate toilet paper (though that country was Germany, where the toilets all seem designed to let you inspect your stool easily), it wasn't a big deal or anything. But I expect that a decent proportion of people descending on the city either won't know, or will forget, that they're not supposed to flush paper down the toilet, with sexy results!
I do recall that they were doing something about the dogs, though, probably inhumane.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07-12-04 5:01 PM
"While you were swinging in the trees, we were building the Parthenon!"
Wow, talk about resting on your laurels...
Posted by syco | Link to this comment | 07-13-04 9:22 AM
Wow, talk about resting on your laurels...
Probable Greek response: We invented laurels too, so we're entitled to rest on them! Treeswinger!!
Posted by Mitch Mills | Link to this comment | 07-13-04 12:01 PM