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Folks in Rome simply do not use clothes dryers. It is part of their aversion to too many electrical appliances, I guess. But, it is getting cold in Italy right now and it isn't as easy to accomplish this household task. | |
| I have written before about washing and drying my clothes in Rome. Basically, I pay my padrona a casa and she does my clothes. Generally, that has meant washing them in the lavatrice, then hanging them outside to dry. That was fine when it was warm, but now it is getting cold. That has required some variation on that theme. The other day, I needed some clean clothes for a weekend excursion, but forgot to take into account the time needed to dry clothes when it's frigid. My pants were hanging outside, in the wind, solid as a rock, almost icy. While inside, I discovered this pole in the shower. Suffice it to say, most of my clothes were still wet when I left for my trip. I ended up hiking through the woods in slacks and my cashmere coat. I heard on the BBC this morning that Shanghai is banning the practice of hanging clothes out to dry. Apparently the officials there think that it is not the image that they want to project of an edgy, modern city. Ha! One of the things that delights me about Rome is how they have managed to merge the old and the new. If it worked molti anni ago, well then it is good enough for the Romans. My God, I am going to miss this city. | ||