Laundry Time

When at home I get so used to doing laundry daily, but when travelling I tend to do it weekly as a trip to the laundromat can be pricy $8 or more to wash and dry! The fun thing about a trip to the laundromat can be the experience of: 1. Getting there...I have severe map issues-even with google maps! and when I actually get there it is a joyous occasion. 2. Figuring out how to use the machines. Yep they can be different in every country, and the instructions are not always in english. My trick is to watch what others do! Then follow them, if that doesnt work plead ignorance and someone will always help. 3. Praying nothing goes wrong. It has before. In Lyon, France i was at the laundromat and halfway through the wash cycle the whole laundromats power supply went out. I was the only one there!! No staff!! Luckily a customer walked in about 2mins after the power went and spoke to me in french..all I understood was "Weee blahblah" i told him I didnt speak french, luckily he spoke english! He rang someone and within 10mins someone was there and everything was backmon track. 4. Timeout. Things can be so busy and full on while travelling that its nice to take 1-2 hours out where you dont go any where, do anything, you can read, daydream, write, have a coffee and watch the world go by! 5. Be amazed! At how much washing some people have!! I saw a Lady in the states bring in 5 HUGE bags of washing, load them into the machine, then go and get 5 more bags!! I think she did her washing monthly!! 6. Meet the locals :) There have been many great converstations had in the laundromat, the old man in Boston wanting to know all about NZ, an older lady in Rouen practising her english with me and the wonderful ladies in Munich that talked with me and gave me a coffee. They all add to the experience of travel. Todays experience in Sydney is nothing exciting, the machine wouldnt work properly so the guy came out and jiggled the keys to make it work! The world is passing by outside on Elizabeth street and once my washing is done Hubbie and I are heading to Manly for dinner :) Anyway I hope that wasnt too boring! Enjoy the simple things in life, they can bring you the greatest pleasures! I wonder if the dryer will need kicking to get it going??lol Ciao! Janell