Birt: 26.09.2024
They must have thought to themselves, the Romans... when they came from the sunny Mediterranean to the wet and cool Britain, 2,000 years ago. And they did so wearing sandals and little skirts. No wonder so many of them perished...
But evidently, some survived and even decided to stay there. I saw a few of their descendants today. In 11 degrees Celsius and drizzling rain, they were out and about in sleeveless tops, short-sleeved T-shirts or shirts, and shorts, sitting outside in pubs or cafes, undeterred by heavier downpours...
In Betws-y-Coed, there is a public restroom. Unfortunately, it was under renovation and hence closed. None of the local establishments, numerous shops, or the friendly train station offered assistance in this regard. (I assume the employees there do not have to deny themselves all day. Only in one hotel was it permissible to relieve oneself - provided one consumed something there. (In Croatia, every larger construction site must at least set up a portable toilet 🤔.)
All in all, the situation with restrooms is quite something. One lady from our group urgently needed to go shortly after passing Manchester. She exited the highway and stopped at a hotel. There, however, she was denied entry. To me, hospitality looks different. (Interestingly, there was also a sign at the hotel entrance prohibiting guests from bringing food and drinks. I wonder if they conduct bag checks?)
It’s also worth pondering why it's no problem for the 'average tourist' to walk for hours in the rain in the UK and explore sights, while in Croatia (or other Mediterranean countries) a rain shower can 'ruin the whole day' for the same tourist... I look forward to your comments!
In any case, it was a great day! The excursion was worth its price, and Simon was fantastic! I got to know many new Herbalife friends and even exceeded my activity goals. Now I am looking forward to tomorrow!