Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Waschsalon

A chain of coin laundries in all major German cities is run under the name "eco express". There are three in Hannover alone. They are open 16 hours per day.

Palencia was called Pallantia in ancient times and was the capital of a Celtiberian tribe. Palencia probably became the seat of a bishop as early as the 3rd century, and the city experienced its first heyday under the Visigoths in the 6th and 7th centuries. In the 8th century, the Arab-Moorish armies conquered the area around Palencia. In the 11th century the city was reconquered by the Christians (reconquista). The greatest supporter at the beginning of the 13th century was the Castilian King Alfonso VIII. Already during his lifetime, but mainly after his death (1214), the existing cathedral school was converted into one of the first universities in Europe. I often sit in laundries while traveling and I like the smell of my clean clothes when I fold them in the end. This laundry was very clean and had perfect washing machines.

Venice (ital. Venezia) is one of the most important tourist destinations worldwide with about 30 million visitors each year. I have already uploaded dozens of shots from previous visits, so I´ll try to cut down the number of uploads this time. Lavanderia

Many years ago, I spent a couple of weeks in Lyon, trying to learn French with the support of a French Language School (Lyon Bleu). It was a pretty mediocre success, but I liked Lyon so much, that since then I do return, just to stroll the streets, watch the Rhone - and have a great dinner. About once per week, I walked to this laverie and washed my clothes. I have always loved to hang around in these laundromats. The mesmerizing noise, the fresh smell and the wheels, that go round and round..

The more I travelled - the more I loved launderettes, especially, when I was hiking. 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, some years ago, I was more hiking than driving through France, I often took breaks in launderettes, to wash my clothes. The longer I have travelled - the more I loved launderettes, as they are important meeting and melting points.

Well, the Laundry Café was actually not what I had expected. The Café was just a vending machine for coffee, but the washing machines seemed ok.

Sicily, the largest Mediterranean island, 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. 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 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 from Europe and the Middle East. This attracted scholars, scientists, artists, and artisans. Muslims, Jews, Greeks, Lombards, and Normans cooperated and created some extraordinary buildings. In 1186 the last descendant of Roger, Constance of Sicily married Emperor Henry VI, the second son of 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 and later was 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. Many centuries later, a young polarbear, who had nothing to do with all the political quarrels, that had happened here, moved to Palermo and opened this launderette. The more and the longer I have travelled - the more I loved these businesses. But meanwhile I mostly ask the hotel to care for my clothes.

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.

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 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.

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

A sleeping laverie late at night.

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/

What a great name for a small coin laundry!

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