There are many things we take for granted in North America and free public toilets are high on the list. Perhaps that is why there are so many Internet message boards sharing humourous stories and offering guidance on how to manage the toilets of Europe.
Let’s face it — finding facilities may sometimes be challenging and finding free facilities in some locales can be almost impossible.
But if you thought there was no such thing as a free bathroom in Europe, you might be surprised to know that in Hornberg, Germany, at the Duravit Design Center you will not only find a free toilet, but free saunas, massaging showers, steam rooms, and whirlpool tubs. The five-storey ultra-modern showroom facility has six in-house test bathrooms that visitors can try out for an evening — with an advance appointment. It’s like enjoying an evening at the spa without having to pay for it.
Even if you don’t bother to book an evening at the “free spa,” a visit to the Design Center is a fun and fascinating outing. In addition to five floors of Duravit bathroom designs, you can also explore a museum-like area that explains the history of architecture and bathroom design.
Everything you ever wanted to know about toilets and plumbing can be found here — from the era of public baths to the invention of the water closet and beyond.
Perhaps the best part of any visit is the opportunity to step out onto the observation platform outside the building.The view is great, but that’s not the big attraction. The platform is designed so that you are standing in the bowl of an absolutely enormous toilet — the world’s largest free toilet.
In Europe, it doesn’t get any better than that.
Toilet travel tips
Whether you are travelling abroad or hiking in the woods, a little advance preparation can save you a great deal of hassle when nature calls. Here are a few tips to help things go smoother on your next trip.
• It’s a good idea to carry your own toilet paper (individual Kleenex packs work nicely), hand sanitizer and sanitary wipes wherever you travel. Washroom facilities are not always equipped with such items.
• Always have small change on hand when you are travelling in destinations that charge for the use of their facilities. Bathroom attendants usually cannot or will not provide change, so you may wish to purchase a postcard, pack of gum, or other small item from a convenience store to ensure you have bathroom change.
• Take advantage of opportunities to use clean washrooms. If you use the washroom on a train before you arrive at your destination, it can save you the hassle of trying to find a good facility later.
• There are a few places you can always count on to have a clean washroom. One of those places is the McDonald’s Restaurant. McBathrooms can be a real lifesaver. Another good option is a shopping centre or a nice hotel. Most upscale hotels have washroom facilities for visitors in the lobby area.
Power to the people
Have you ever wondered why pay toilets are so rare in North America?
We can thank the American anti-pay-toilet movement for the current bathroom freedoms we enjoy in Canada. In a moment of inspiration, frustration or perhaps even constipation, California legislator March Fong Eu smashed a toilet bowl on the steps of the state capital building as part of her campaign against pay toilets that were becoming popular in the 1970s. Fong Eu felt that pay toilets discriminated against women, because men were able to use urinals for free. Her campaign inspired feminists everywhere and was even supported by the American Restroom Association.
Eventually this lobby effort succeeded in getting many municipalities to ban pay toilets.
The Canadian counterpart to the American Restroom Association is the Canadian Toilet Organization (CTO). Founded in Toronto in 2008, this organization works to improve public facilities throughout our nation and to encourage efforts to improve water conservation practices within homes and public washroom facilities. It is their dream that one day toilets will no longer be a taboo subject in Canadian culture.
Bathroom reading
• Canadian Toilet Organization: www.canadiantoilet.org
• Duravit Design Center: The centre in Hornberg, Germany is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. and Saturdays from noon until 4 p.m. If you wish to try out one of their “living bathrooms,” you should make a reservation in advance by calling 49-7833-70-0. For more information on the centre, visit www.duravit.com. Other show rooms can be found in New York, Paris, Meiben, Kairo and Bizerte. Some of these other sites also provide the opportunity to test the facilities for free.
Debbie Olsen is a Lacombe-based freelance writer. If you have a travel story you would like to share or know someone with an interesting travel story who we might interview, please email: DOGO@telusplanet.net or write to: Debbie Olsen, c/o Red Deer Advocate, 2950 Bremner Ave., Red Deer, Alta., T4R 1M9.