It has soft lights, gleaming red and blue surfaces and a relaxing video of bubbles swirling underwater that plays on the wall.
This isn't a fancy hotel; it's Europe's most expensive public restroom.
The super-restroom, which opened earlier this month in Berlin, is the latest word in modern architecture. It has an elevator and a 24-hour reception, and it costs .50 euros (about NT$20) to use.
PHOTO: AFP
There are five bathrooms for men and five for women. Each has air-conditioning and relaxing music.
Hans Wall, the German businessman who built the bathroom, said it cost him 750,000 euros to build, but it was worth it. "I'm very pleased with it. It's been done with love, intelligence and the best of German design. ... It's an oasis from the outside world. Everything is clean and hygienic. You feel refreshed after using it. The mayor of London should pay us a visit and see how it can be done."
The area where the restroom is located used to be run down, but new stores are improving it. "This place used to be full of drug addicts. It was very dark. I didn't fancy using it much. I was worried about being robbed," said Wolfgang Gellesch, 62, who works near there. "Now the facilities are excellent. It's a symbol of the new Germany."
The underground restroom opened just weeks before Germany hosts the World Cup, with thousands of visitors expected to visit the capital.
Berlin's government has thanked Mr Wall for his work by offering him free advertising space. (Guardian)
燈光柔和；外觀閃爍著紅藍光點；牆上播放泡泡在水裡打轉的輕鬆影片。
這不是高級旅館，它是歐洲最昂貴的公共廁所。
這間「頂級公廁」本月稍早在柏林啟用，是現代建築的最新產物，有升降設備和二十四小時服務處，使用費零點五歐元（約新台幣二十元）。
內設男女廁各五間，有冷氣和輕鬆的音樂。
德國建商漢斯*華爾表示公廁造價七十五萬歐元，不過很值得。他說：「我感到非常開心，它融合了愛、智慧和德國最頂級的設計，是戶外的綠洲。所有設備乾淨衛生，如廁後神清氣爽，倫敦市長應該來拜訪觀摩。」
公廁所在區域曾經破敗髒亂，不過新商店進駐後情況有改善。今年六十二歲，在附近工作的沃夫甘*蓋勒奇說：「這裡以前很陰暗，到處都是毒蟲，因為怕被搶我根本不敢上公廁，現在的設備很棒，是新德國的象徵。」
今年世界盃足球賽由德國主辦，這間地下公廁於開賽前幾週啟用，預計將有成千上萬名觀光客遊訪首都柏林。
柏林市府提供華爾先生免費廣告空間以表感謝之意。
（衛報／翻譯：鄭湘儀）
What comes to mind when you think of a “mermaid”? For some, it may simply be a mythical creature, but being a professional mermaid is a real and fascinating career. This unique job not only involves creativity but also demands dedication and skill. Professional mermaids amaze audiences with breathtaking underwater performances. Whether they are gracefully swimming alongside marine creatures or educating spectators about manatee ecology, their movements evoke a sense of magic and wonder. But their work doesn’t stop there. Many mermaids engage directly with visitors, taking memorable photos or guiding them through unique experiences, such as “mermaid for
A preliminary finding into last month’s Air India plane crash has suggested the aircraft’s fuel control switches were turned off, starving the engines of fuel and causing a loss of engine thrust shortly after takeoff. The report, issued by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau on Saturday last week, also found that one pilot was heard on the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) asking the other why he cut off the fuel in the flight’s final moment. The other pilot replied he had not done so. The Air India flight — a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner — crashed on June 12 and killed
A: A mint Labubu doll was sold for a record 1.08 million Chinese yuan — or about US$150,300 — at an auction. B: That much for a doll? That’s insane. A: The character of toy company Pop Mart has sparked a global frenzy thanks to celebrity endorsements, like pop diva Rihanna and Blackpink member Lisa. B: Where can we admire all the Pop Mart dolls? A: The world’s third Pop Mart flagship store is located in Taipei’s Ximending area. Let’s go together. A: 一個薄荷色的「拉布布」玩偶在拍賣會上，拍出108萬人民幣天價、高達15萬美元！ B: 一個玩偶？這也太瘋狂啦。 A: 這個泡泡瑪特玩具公司旗下的角色正在全球掀起狂熱，而這都要感謝天后蕾哈娜、Blackpink的Lisa等名人的加持。 B: 哪裡可以看到泡泡瑪特推出的公仔啊？ A: 全球第三家泡泡瑪特旗艦店就在台北西門町，我們去逛逛吧。 （By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times／台北時報張迪）
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