Is it safe to drink tap water in Switzerland?
Apr 28th, 2009, 12:28 PM
#22
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Well, know that we are completely off topic, I'll mention that the UK is indeed a G7 country, okay it's definitely seen it's hayday, but in the year 2009 it's one of the 7 richest nations in the world.
Apr 28th, 2009, 12:36 PM
#24
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If you still believe that UK is a first-world country, click on the following link.
Warning:
The following website contains graphic material. Do not open it if you are under 21. Do not open it if you are suffering from heart disease.
http://www.uknet.com/gallery/BritishFood/teapot
Warning:
The following website contains graphic material. Do not open it if you are under 21. Do not open it if you are suffering from heart disease.
http://www.uknet.com/gallery/BritishFood/teapot
Apr 28th, 2009, 03:17 PM
#28
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I think retiredinflorida ask a perfectly legitimate question.
Even in areas of the world where the water is considered "safe", it may have certain contaminants in it that don't bother the local population because they are use to it and have developed immunity.
This is what happens to many travelers to certain parts of Mexico. The water causes no stomach upsets for the local population but can cause serious problems for gringos.
That said, I have always felt the water in Switzerland, Germany, Austria or the parts of the UK where I have traveled to be perfectly acceptable and have not suffered any ill effects from it.
Even in areas of the world where the water is considered "safe", it may have certain contaminants in it that don't bother the local population because they are use to it and have developed immunity.
This is what happens to many travelers to certain parts of Mexico. The water causes no stomach upsets for the local population but can cause serious problems for gringos.
That said, I have always felt the water in Switzerland, Germany, Austria or the parts of the UK where I have traveled to be perfectly acceptable and have not suffered any ill effects from it.
Apr 29th, 2009, 03:15 AM
#29
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we were told that you could drink the water straight out of lake lucerne
we didnt but it was nice to know you were welcome to had you become terribly parched
we had no warnings re water anywhere except now when we are going to russia
greece was our greatest water worry but it was fine
so was croatia
didnt question it when we were in other parts of europe
i think you will have no problem but just ask the locals
sometimes there is a scare for a few weeks like the one we had here a few years ago - lasted about 10 weeks - and boiling the water til it begged for mercy was no fun either
this was a giardia and cryptosporidium scare im talking about
our water is really good - apparently lol
we didnt but it was nice to know you were welcome to had you become terribly parched
we had no warnings re water anywhere except now when we are going to russia
greece was our greatest water worry but it was fine
so was croatia
didnt question it when we were in other parts of europe
i think you will have no problem but just ask the locals
sometimes there is a scare for a few weeks like the one we had here a few years ago - lasted about 10 weeks - and boiling the water til it begged for mercy was no fun either
this was a giardia and cryptosporidium scare im talking about
our water is really good - apparently lol
Apr 29th, 2009, 03:47 AM
#30
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<i>This is what happens to many travelers to certain parts of Mexico. The water causes no stomach upsets for the local population but can cause serious problems for gringos.</i>
Exactly, and I agree that the question isn't as stupid as it may appear for this very reason. And it does make asking the locals a bit problematic, as they may have become accustomed to whatever purification methods or residual bugs that would make a foreigner sick.
Even within Europe, some older buildings have special "drinking water" taps. They may have long outlived their usefulness, but seeing one can cause one to question the safety of water from an unlabeled tap.
The bigger issue, of course, is whether the water tastes like garbage. Fortunately, the water in Switzerland is generally pretty good. I'm not as keen on the water in some other European countries.
As to the question of first-world/third-world. Switzerland is definitely first-world, even if some of the older folks wish it weren't. Parts of the UK are kind of depressing, but note that a lack of taste in food or an overly enthusiastic embrace of lousy architecture during the second half of the 20th century means they only resemble the darker parts of the old Soviet Bloc.
Florida, on the other hand, is its own little world, complete with all the hallmarks of whatever world you want. You have Deliverance Florida in the north, lacking only ominous banjo music. You have the decidedly Middle America parts, too. You even have some pockets of wealth, much of it tackily displayed. Finally, though much of the other parts seem oblivious too it, you have a Latin American population that provides the only real soul and color to that swamp of a state. But, hey, if you like the heat, it is a good place to hang out for a few years while waiting to die.
Exactly, and I agree that the question isn't as stupid as it may appear for this very reason. And it does make asking the locals a bit problematic, as they may have become accustomed to whatever purification methods or residual bugs that would make a foreigner sick.
Even within Europe, some older buildings have special "drinking water" taps. They may have long outlived their usefulness, but seeing one can cause one to question the safety of water from an unlabeled tap.
The bigger issue, of course, is whether the water tastes like garbage. Fortunately, the water in Switzerland is generally pretty good. I'm not as keen on the water in some other European countries.
As to the question of first-world/third-world. Switzerland is definitely first-world, even if some of the older folks wish it weren't. Parts of the UK are kind of depressing, but note that a lack of taste in food or an overly enthusiastic embrace of lousy architecture during the second half of the 20th century means they only resemble the darker parts of the old Soviet Bloc.
Florida, on the other hand, is its own little world, complete with all the hallmarks of whatever world you want. You have Deliverance Florida in the north, lacking only ominous banjo music. You have the decidedly Middle America parts, too. You even have some pockets of wealth, much of it tackily displayed. Finally, though much of the other parts seem oblivious too it, you have a Latin American population that provides the only real soul and color to that swamp of a state. But, hey, if you like the heat, it is a good place to hang out for a few years while waiting to die.
Apr 29th, 2009, 07:07 AM
#31
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>>a good place to hang out for a few years while waiting to die<<
You die much faster when you eat British food regularly.
(I can't imagine what Weetabix does to you once you have it in your innards. I once tried one in a hotel in North Devon. It looks like sheep dung, it tastes like sheep dung - guess what it is!)
You die much faster when you eat British food regularly.
(I can't imagine what Weetabix does to you once you have it in your innards. I once tried one in a hotel in North Devon. It looks like sheep dung, it tastes like sheep dung - guess what it is!)
Apr 29th, 2009, 07:53 AM
#33
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I bet that Stephen King could write a wonderful short story about what happens if you take Weetabix into your body.
scatcat,
if you are ready to face the truth, if aren't scared easily, if you have a strong heart, if you have an even stronger stomach, if you like hardcore horror stories, then read this thread:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...l-pictures.cfm
scatcat,
if you are ready to face the truth, if aren't scared easily, if you have a strong heart, if you have an even stronger stomach, if you like hardcore horror stories, then read this thread:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...l-pictures.cfm
Apr 29th, 2009, 08:35 AM
#34
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Those pictures are an attempt to match a Dennys menu. I went into one (once) so I know. We are just jealous. The British population has a never-ending but very successful quest for morbid obesity.
Weetabix has been around for decades but it has almost no sugar or salt in it and it's not processed so that's probably why it doesn't appeal. It has roughage and vitamins and things. There's something called Oatibix as well now!
Great title for a thread though. Not up with tipping the pilot or buying a gun when visiting the USA but good. The back-pedalling was fun too. EU countries are all different. Well, blow me down.
Weetabix has been around for decades but it has almost no sugar or salt in it and it's not processed so that's probably why it doesn't appeal. It has roughage and vitamins and things. There's something called Oatibix as well now!
Great title for a thread though. Not up with tipping the pilot or buying a gun when visiting the USA but good. The back-pedalling was fun too. EU countries are all different. Well, blow me down.
