The biggest positive shock in Mexico – Mexican toilets
If you have been following my blog for longer, then you are familiar with the fact that I quit my stewardess job in March 2011 and left to spend 3 months traveling around my favorite country in the world – Mexico.
I have loved it even before I visited it. I knew heaps about the country, its food and people but still during 89 days there a bunch of things surprised me. Most of them in a positive way.
I already mentioned in the quick lesson of Mexican Spanish that ”toilets” are called sanitarios in Mexico. But until now I have not confessed one thing. I was literally shocked upon my arrival to Mexico when I entered the toilets. And then for the following 3 months it remained the same. Really a good surprise. And then some people still say Mexico is a third world country. I have to be against it and agree with those who started calling Mexico a developing country :)
What shocked me about the Mexican toilets? There are some details I noticed, some of them quite ridiculous, some very positive or a bit odd to see for the first time but I still did see them.
- Higher quality – baños demuestran lo que somos = toilets show what we are is the sign I saw in the toilets around the country more times and it is visible they mean it. The Mexican toilets are in general much cleaner than in many posh restaurants in Europe.
- Smaller toilet bowls – as the majority of the Mexicans are not that tall as for example the Europeans, the toilets don’t reach so high. For someone being 180 cm tall like me, it was a bit of a homework to aim the toilet bowl when not sitting on it (I never sit on toilets in restaurants and most of other places when traveling).
- It seems ridiculous but there is much more water inside the toilets in Mexico than in those in Europe. Yes, inside the water level reaches very high while in Europe the water is just a few centimetres high.
- In some places (big good restaurants, Sanburns shops) a toilet lady cleaner gives you a tissue to dry up your hands after washing them – what a comfort!
- Many Mexican toilets are beautifully coloured with mosaics and made of Talavera porcelain.
Talavera toilet
- Some bathrooms have a sofa (Casa Valadez restaurant in underground town Guanajuato or in some Sanborns restaurants). If it was at a disco/club, we all know what the sofa would be for, but in a restaurant? You sit when eating at the table and then go to the toilet to sit there? Maybe they are just too nice to all the women who have to wait in the Q for an unoccupied WC. I remember the first time I came in a toilet in Valadez and it took me a few seconds to check out if it was really a bathroom or I entered a room or something.
- Do not flush the used toilet paper into the toilet bowl but throw it into a bin next to the toilet. This rule was pretty weird for me (and a bit disgusting) the first couple of weeks in Mexico until I got used to it. It was a first time ever for me to see it as I didn’t visit Asia nor South America before exploring Mexico. But better do it the way they say as if you forget and flush the toilet paper down the toilet, it can get all stuck there. Some places prefer you to flush it, but if so, they will always state it somewhere there.
- To flush the toilet, better press the button or push the handle with your foot, not hand, if it is possible. That way you will avoid to touch the bacterias with your hands.
Have you visited Mexico? Did you find the Mexican toilets also a bit weird? Have you noticed all the things I mentioned above?
Anna
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I’m quite surprised that this article didn’t turn into a controversial one. In one of my posts about Mexico (where I lived for 2 years) I mentioned that you shouldn’t put a toilet paper into the toilet bowl and a lot of Mexicans argued with it ;)
Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler
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They argued? I though that’s true about the toilet paper :D
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Comment@ Isabel:
Agreed, Isabel!
Isabel
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I’m tempted to go to Mexico just to see this now! I’m never a fan of the toilet paper in the bin situation,especially emptying said bin….. but much better than a blocked toilet. Strange revolting toilets can really ruin a country so I’m glad mexico is trying!
Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler
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Comment@ Michelle:
Me too :D
Michelle
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Wow, those are really nice toilet bowls! I love them! Haha
crazy sexy fun traveler
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Comment@ Micamyx|Senyorita:
Yeah, toilet bowls in Mexico are like piece of art :)
Micamyx|Senyorita
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This is interesting! I wouldn’t mind staying the ‘throne’ for long with the designs of the toilet bowls lol
Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler
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Comment@ Shane:
Yep, so I’m happy there were no issues in Mexico for me :)
Shane
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Comment@ Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler:
I think you are correct it is more of an issue for the ladies.
Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler
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Comment@ Shane:
I always have an opinion on bathrooms, Shane :) I guess it is more important for us girls than guys haha
Shane
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That is really interesting, i have traveled quite a bit and never really had an opinion on bathrooms, but that is nice that they have nice one, I wouldn’t have expected that.
Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler
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Comment@ Stephen S.:
Yeah and then when I went back to Europe I was looking for a bit next to the toilet, confusing!
Stephen S.
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Haha I remember the first time I had to throw toilet paper in a separate bin. It was so odd. I can’t believe they have sofas in the restrooms. I don’t know if I would ever use it, but it still is a nice touch. :)