There isn't much to be said for the public bathrooms in Italy. Some don't even have toilets, but rather a hole with two spots for your feet. Trust us, this contraption takes squatting to a newly unpleasant level. It's pretty much pee at your own risk.
And it's not just dive bars and gas stations with squat-a-rific bathrooms. We've seen discotheques and restaurants with the same, er, technology.
All potty talk aside, Italy does have one fantastic bathroom invention, which we came across at a Treviso nightclub, Amami. It's a pay-per-use hair dryer and straightener! Finally, someone is thinking clearly.
The gizmo costs €2 per use and we assume you get just enough minutes of power to sexy up your mane--or dry your pant legs.
Oh, General Mitchell International Airport! You told us we could log on to your WiFi with nary a hitch. Just connect to the network "pcswifi," your PA announcement said. It's offered throughout the terminal, you promised. So we whipped out the computer--and the 'net access didn't work. We tried again from a different part of Terminal D, and got stopped in our tracks by some sort of sign-in screen. MKE, you should know we think WiFi should be free as a bird. Fortunately, when Jaunted goes on the road, we roll geeked out.
We had our Mac set up to pow-wow with our BlackBerry Pearl via Bluetooth. Combined with the Cingular's data service, we could stream data over the air, through the 'tooth and to our laptop. Pretty sweet, no? Before you praise us as some sort of IT wizards, know that we got the idea from Fibble.
And, before you think it's the end all, be all, we did actually have some trouble staying connected. We were able to snag some emails and check a little bit of news before giving up. Even though we're web dorks, some of this stuff is complicated!
We want these to be installed in every hotel room in the US, fast. We doubt it will happen, as outlets themselves are getting more and more scare as it is, but we'll continue to dream the impossible dream.
What's the big deal, you say? Hardly. They're outlets that can rotate 360 degrees in the socket, so you can plug in extra stuff and blow the fuses in your house more efficiently. Fine, but we think the technology works better in a place where the plugs are hard to get to, and unless you're traveling with your own power bar, outlets are limited in a hotel.
Now if we can only solve the foreign voltage problem...
OK, so we're not saying this would make the sexiest of Valentine's Day gifts, but at $4 it's a lot cheaper and more useful than flowers and chocolates. Whether your sweetie is a hiker or just someone with dogs who like to run through the brush, the Tick Twister removal device seems like a really good thing to have. It looks like it's worlds' easier to use than Crisco, a lit ciggie, hairspray, a flame-thrower, or all the other dodgy tick-be-gone methods out there.
Next time you're on the road and want to go for a run, no need to carry a sweaty map with you to find your way back to the hotel. Check out the Forerunner 301. It continually monitors your pace, heartrate, calories burned, speed and distance and has a GPS built in to tell you where you are and how to get back.
Sure, we've all heard of the obligatory travel first aid kit that's got everything crammed in and packs easily in your trunk. But this is something a little different. It's a 'travel kit' that fits entirely in an old Altoids box. Pretty amazing. Inside you'll find item for "McGyver-like" solutions should the need arise, such as a mini-lock picking set, an LED light, sandpaper, floss, even a small Swiss Army knife.
The author outlines potential use situations:
I want this kit to work for any situation I find myself in at home or abroad; opening locked doors, boring parties, arts and crafts, sailing, equipment failure, unexpected dust, unexpected anything
And while you can't order one per se, at least you can make your own by example. A world of traveling McGyvers sounds pretty cool to us...
We have found our new navigational savior. This magic site will help the directionally impaired and musically inclined for years to come.
You have to check out iPodiWay pronto. A combination of iPod and Yahoo Directions maps, it allows you to type in driving directions from Point A to Point B (yes, just like on Yahoo maps) and then download them in a handy little ZIP file to your IPod photo folder and be on your way.
The Times offers great tips on things to take with you while travelling that you might not think of otherwise. They all come from readers, who have tested them tried and true.
One suggests a Gatorade powder, which is light to pack and comes in handy whether you're stuck without fluids in a hostel or hungover at a four-star hotel. Another says a mini-Maglite for use in emergencies or as a portable nightlight so you don't wake the whole room or trip from too-fast bright lights.
Got things you won't travel without? Share your tips with us and we just might share them with everyone else...
1 Comment - Add Yours
by CourtScott
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OK, so we're not saying this would make the sexiest of Valentine's Day gifts, but at $4 it's a lot cheaper and more useful than flowers and chocolates. Whether your sweetie is a hiker or just someone with dogs who like to run through the brush, the Tick Twister removal device seems like a really good thing to have. It looks like it's worlds' easier to use than Crisco, a lit ciggie, hairspray, a flame-thrower, or all the other dodgy tick-be-gone methods out there. 
The Times offers great tips on things to take with you while travelling that you might not think of otherwise. They all come from readers, who have tested them tried and true.
