Potty Talk

For the most part, things in Europe are not all that different from things in the U.S.  There are some significant differences, of course, which are worth noting if you plan on visiting Europe.  First, it is important to note that Americans are basically giants, so everything here (which is an appropriate size for Europeans) is far too small for Americans.  For example:

Another example.  If you are in Europe for long enough, you are eventually going to want to use the bathroom (editor's note: did he really just write that?).  When doing so, it is important to know a few things.  Maybe most importantly, a "bathroom" is actually a room with a bath in it.  This is probably not what you were looking to find.  Instead, ask for a washroom, toilet or a "WC" (water closet).

If all of that fails, there are bathroom WC toilet other signs that help guide people to the appropriate place.  But even these require a bit of interpretation.  For example.....

Remnant of segragation

This sign is from London.  It is very helpful for what it does.  Ladies and Gentlemen go downstairs to find a washroom.  Clear and easy to understand.  But about the rest of us?  Where are our washrooms?

Most signs will adhere to a similar convention (male and female restrooms), but not all.  

This sign (found at Mosada in Israel) has two separate restrooms, but instead of male and female, it reserves one restroom for people with pear-shaped torsos and one leg.  Kind of a niche market, but I guess it works for them.  

But as mentioned, most facilities use the typical male/female WC split.  But some will require a certain amount of class of its patrons.  For example, this gas station in Bulgaria requires its male patrons to wear bowties.

Kind of snooty for a gas station with a Turkish toilet.

The signs, found in Macedonia seem to require nearly as much class from the users of these facilities (although it is possible a man would sneak in with just a collar, not necessarily a bowtie). 

 

These signs do raise some important questions about Macedonia, however.  First, why are the heads of the men so much larger and more round (kind of looks like Jack-in-the-Box with a bowler hat) than the heads of the women?  Second, why is the woman bringing a drink into the ladies room?

Regardless of the answers to these important inquiries (well, inquiries, anyway), this raises an important point: sometimes the signs can be used to communicate information beyond just the location of the WC.  For example, in Europe, is not uncommon to have to pay a fee to use the facilities in public.  

The reason matching "his and hers" haircuts never caught on.

This sign, found on the beach in Tel Aviv, communicates that it costs 1 Shkel to use the facilities (The bigger point to Anne and Mark is that the people have really, really oddly shaped heads, but that does not fit this narrative, so it will not be discussed).

Sometimes, the signs can communicate that the facilities are in use.

"Engaged" is the fancy British equivalent of the "occupied" part of the dial that shows up when a port-o-potty is in use.

The above is actually a photo of the facilities on a train in England in use.  Not for nothing, but using the facilities on a moving train is not as easy as it sounds.  Please plan accordingly.

And finally, some signs communicate the location of a restroom for someone who has got to go.  Others communicate the location of a restroom for someone who REALLY has got to go.