Okay, so you've been smitten by the photos and my blog about Barcelona and La Sagrada Familia. (And you haven't even seen my pictures of Valencia yet!) You decided that Spain will be your next destination vacation. Awesome! There are a few “little” things that you'll find very handy to know when you get there.
How To Flush a Toilet.
Imagine yourself in the Barcelona airport. You just walked off the plane and need to use the restroom. You don't know how to read the sign unless you speak Spanish, but you do recognize the little man and woman icons. You get in the queue. Your turn comes, you're finished in the stall, and you look for the flush handle. It's not there! A line of women is standing outside the door restlessly waiting for their turn. You panic.
How To Flush a Toilet.
Imagine yourself in the Barcelona airport. You just walked off the plane and need to use the restroom. You don't know how to read the sign unless you speak Spanish, but you do recognize the little man and woman icons. You get in the queue. Your turn comes, you're finished in the stall, and you look for the flush handle. It's not there! A line of women is standing outside the door restlessly waiting for their turn. You panic.
No, wait, you don't panic because I'm going to show you pictures of the unusual (for us Americans) flushing apparatus that can be found in Europe. So you can flush with confidence and stride proudly out the stall door.
The commode lid button.
This one's easy to guess. It's shiny, it's a button, and there are no other options. What are the big and little crescent shapes? The little one is for a little flush of water. You press both buttons at the same time for a big flush. And that brush right next to the stool? You're expected to use it when needed.
This one's easy to guess. It's shiny, it's a button, and there are no other options. What are the big and little crescent shapes? The little one is for a little flush of water. You press both buttons at the same time for a big flush. And that brush right next to the stool? You're expected to use it when needed.
Photo credit Soak.com
The wall plate.
This one's not intuitive. It looks more like a dispenser of some sort. This is a round button design. It also comes in a square plate option to make things a little more confusing. Once again, the smaller plate is for a small flush and the large plate is for a big flush. This same design can sometimes be found on the commode lid.
This one's not intuitive. It looks more like a dispenser of some sort. This is a round button design. It also comes in a square plate option to make things a little more confusing. Once again, the smaller plate is for a small flush and the large plate is for a big flush. This same design can sometimes be found on the commode lid.
The wall button.
You're getting the hang of this now! It's a regular old button you push. Note handy toilet brush that's hygienically mounted off the floor.
You're getting the hang of this now! It's a regular old button you push. Note handy toilet brush that's hygienically mounted off the floor.
Yet another variation of "guess what happens when you push here" button.
This design is tasteful, sleek and modern. Note polished nickel accents around buttons. And there's that pesky toilet brush again.
This design is tasteful, sleek and modern. Note polished nickel accents around buttons. And there's that pesky toilet brush again.
Success! You have mastered the complexities of European plumbing before you even set foot on the continent!
