Coin Laundries

After weeks of travelling, we urgently needed a launderette. Unfortunately the small LAV´MATIC, near to the place where we lived over the week in Carcassonne, was closed all the time. The owner was on vacation probably. Just like us.

The more and the longer I have travelled - the more I loved launderettes, especially, when I am walking. There is a relaxing hour to spend at least, waiting for the washing machine and listening to the dryer. It´s such a good feeling to know, that all socks, pants and shirts in the backpack have this fresh smell.

The more and the longer I have travelled - the more I loved launderettes, especially, when I am walking. There is a relaxing hour to spend at least, waiting for the washing machine and then listening to the dryer. It´s such a good feeling to know, that all socks, pants and shirts in the backpack have this fresh smell. I remember that there is a "clean machine" in Penny Lane. Here are some more clean machines.

The "Salon Lavoir Le Cygne" is a great laundromat. Of course "Rapide Auto Service", but with a nice, clean smell.

A nice name for a laundromat, that needs some TLC. Seen on the pedestal on the right is Joan of Arc.

When I left the restaurant L'Escapade (see previous upload), the "Laverie Colbert" had fallen asleep already.

What a great name for a small coin laundry!

The more and the longer I have travelled - the more I loved launderettes. Launderettes are the meeting and melting point. Here the weary traveller will meet and talk to locals. There is an hour to spend at least, waiting for the washing machine. Talk is cheap. For the tourist all the locals have interesting stories to listen to and for the locals this stranger in the launderette is interesting. What is he doing in here? Washing clothes! Why? As they are dirty? Where do you stay? What do you work? How is your life? Where will you be tomorrow? Launderettes - are definitely underestimated! Seen here is a nice launderette in Nice. Unfortunatley I never took a photo of my favourite launderette, the "Tin Tin Tango" in Taka-Töölö, Helsinki, Finland. The "Tin Tin Tango" combines a couple of washing machines and tumbling dryers, a coffee shop - and a sauna. Sebastian took a nice shot from the facade in winter: www.flickr.com/photos/sstorholm/5369817957/ Just learned, that the "Tin Tin Tango" has a website (in finnish): www.tintintango.info/

A sleeping laverie late at night.

The more and the longer I have travelled - the more I loved launderettes,. But as I was in Perugia only for two days,I had asked the hotelto care for my clothes.

The self-service laundry is open from 07.00 to 22.00, but even at night time it is protected by Pope Francis, whose poster is attached to the wall.

The more and the longer I have travelled (with limited baggage!) - the more I loved launderettes. This one in Albi had a very clean and nearly irresistible smell.

The more I travelled - the more I loved launderettes, especially, when I am walking. There is a relaxing hour to spend at least, waiting for the washing machine and another half an hour to listen to the dryer... And after that all the stuff is clean and has a nice smell.

When, about a decade ago, I took a break on my walk from Geneva to Conques in Le Puy, I had to "visit" one of the launderettes in town. The more and the longer I have travelled - the more I loved launderettes, as they are inmportant meeting and melting points. "Lav' Flash" was open already very early that morning.

The "Rue Juiverie" is a part of "Vieux Lyon", the old quarter of Lyon. The road existed probably since Roman times. In medieval times Louis IX of France (aka "Saint Louis") gave permission to the Jews to settle here and build a synagogue. Later famous famous Nostradamus lived in this street. One of his clients was unfortunate Catherine de' Medici, who came here to consult him. Today the street has this nice laundry shop, that offers a discount of 20% on Thursdays.

The hot springs in the area were used already by the Romans, but from the late 17th century on Plombières-les-Bains developed into a very fashionable, poshy spa, where the celebrities of their times met. Judging from the "laverie" things may have changed a bit.

The island of Corsica is one of the 18 regions of France. It was colonized the Carthaginians, the Greeks, the Etruscans and the Romans. After the Roman empire collapsed, Corsica got invaded by the Vandals and the Ostrogoths. For a short while the island belonged to the Byzantine Empire, then the Franks granted the island to the Pope, in the early 11th century Pisa and Genoa together freed the island from the threat of Arab invasion. The island came under the influence of the Republic of Pisa, later it belonged to Genua for centuries. In 1755 after a long fight for independence from Genoa the independent Corsican Republic was proclaimed, but in 1769, when the island was conquered by France. As the areas near the coast over centuries have been threatened by attacks and raids of pirates many old hamlets and dwellings are wide inland, high in the mountains. Bonifacio is the southernmost town on the island of Corsica. The town is divided into into two areas: the medieval old town ("ville haute") and the marina in the harbour area. The upper town is located on a 900-metre-long, narrow tongue of lime- and sandstone land parallel to the coast. On its seafront the promontory slopes from a height of about 70 metres perpendicular to the sea. On the land side, a fjord-like bay is cut into the limestone, forming a well-protected natural harbour. The unique location has repeatedly made Bonifacio the center of military conflict, so over the centuries it was built into a massive fortress. In a few minutes the light will be switched off here. The laundry shop will fall asleep. Passing the shop again half an hour later I could hear slight snoring coming from the large dryers half an hour later.

Sicily, the largest of all Mediterranean islands, has a long history, that starts around 8000 BC, but later there were Phoenician, Carthaginian, Greek and Roman periods. After the Roman Empire had fallen apart the Vandals tried to take over the island but failed. Finally, the Ostrogoths took possession. Mid of the 6th century Sicily was conquered by troops of the Byzantine Empire and became a Byzantine province. After the advent of Islam, Sicily got attacked by the Arab forces. Raids seeking loot continued until the mid-8th century. A Muslim army was sent to the island in 827 but met with much resistance. So it took a century to conquer it and even later revolts constantly occurred In 1038 the Byzantines invaded the island supported by their Norman mercenaries, led by Roger. In 1072, after the siege of Palermo, most of Sicily was under Norman control. Roger´s son Roger II raised the status of the island to a kingdom in 1130. During this period, the Kingdom of Sicily was prosperous and powerful, The court of Roger II became melting out of culture, both from Europe and the Middle East. This attracted scholars, scientists, artists, and artisans. Muslims, Jews, Greeks, Lombards, and Normans worked together and created some extraordinary buildings. In 1186 the last descendant of Roger, Constance of Sicily married Emperor Henry VI, the second son of Frederick Barbarossa. So the crown of Sicily was passed on to the Hohenstaufen Dynasty. Frederick II, the only son of Constance, was crowned King of Sicily at the age of four in 1198. He became "Stupor Mundi", one of the greatest and most cultured men of the Middle Ages. Palermo, founded in 734 BC by the Phoenicians, became a possession of Carthage. The town later became part of the Roman Empire. From 831 to 1072 the city was under Arab rule. Following the Norman conquest, Palermo became the capital of a new Kingdom of Sicily and the capital of the Holy Roman Empire under Emperor Frederick II and King Conrad IV. Today Palermo is a bustling city with a population of about 700.000 plus - many many tourists. The more and the longer I have travelled - the more I loved launderettes. But meanwhile I mostly ask the hotel to care for my clothes.