February 22, 2007 - page 3



get my arms in front of me. My hair was being blown into my eyes, as my face was smooshed up against the wall, just below the motion-sensor hand dryer. I walked back to my seat in defeat, jeans wet.

To be fair, not every European train ride involves as much turbulence as I've encountered. Sometimes, the only things to worry about are dysfunctional locks. Or, as it happened

just last week, a bathroom door that would not lock or latch closed. It was the only available functioning bathroom at the time, of course. There are many simple things that turn into difficult tasks when you have only one hand available. Operating heavy machinery, playing video games or foosball, and using the restrooms on a train are somewhere near the top of the list. I held the handle pulled tight, which was sufficient until the train lunged left, throwing me into the door. I forced a toothy smile at the surprised people waiting in the aisle for the bathroom before pulling the door closed again. European trains are already gaining a special place in my heart. Just not the bathrooms.

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