Potty Advice

From Kristen...

It has certainly been an adventure to travel in Europe. And in the past 3 weeks, I’ve learned a few things about how to effectively use bathrooms/toalettes/toilettes/WC’s in Europe:

1) It is nicest to use a train WC when the train is still. Moving is trickier.

2) Don’t flush at the station.*

3) The handle in a train WC, the one that you can conveniently reach while seated, is there for a reason. Don’t hesitate to use it, especially when the train is in motion.

4) Also, don’t stand up while the train goes around a curve. Standing up often requires that you let go of the handle, and remember, the handle is there for a reason.

5) Always have a small supply of TP with you. You never know when you will need it.

6) Train TP is more like paper towels than Cottonelle.

7) Never use a stall that has a broken lock no matter how badly you have to go or whether giant beetles have just run into the other stalls. Wait, find a different bathroom, bring a friend in to guard the door—SOMETHING!—but avoid the stall with the broken lock. Unless, that is, you want very shocked and slightly embarrassed company. Twice.

8) Train WC doors rarely have working locks. Beware.

9) No matter how many times you go to the bathroom before you get on the train and no matter how few milliliters of liquid you drink, you will almost certainly have to go to the WC quite soon after you get on the train. (Perhaps this only applies to me…)

10) Always carry change in your pocket for the bathroom. Rarely will you find a “free pee.”

11) But if you DO find a “free pee,” use it whether you really have to go or not. There may not be another one for a while. **

12) The handle in the train WC is there for a reason. Feel free to use it.

Okay, I think that is plenty for now. Sorry to those of you who were coming to the blog hoping for something insightful, cute, pretty, etc. That will come in time. But for now, I hope you appreciate this very practical advice!***




* Note for astute readers: I know that #1 and #2 seem incompatible and really, they are. Perhaps USE the WC while at the station and then FLUSH after you get going. Or something.

** Greta’s take on things: “Why pay 100 Forint (which is Hungarian currency equivalent to about $0.45) to use the bathroom when you can pay 180 Forint for an ice cream bar…and pee in the woods??”

*** Of course I’m not drawing on any personal experiences when giving this advice. Just things that I’ve heard. ;)