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Tijuana Bathroom Info
By Michael and Danchar Thomas	-- -- -- WARNING --- under CONSTRUCTION. (2001).

[To the: Best Free Bathrooms on Revolution Avenue.]

CABALLEROS = Gentlemen, HOMBRES=Men. DAMAS = Ladies, MUJERES = Women.

BANOS = SANITARIOS = Bathrooms = Restrooms.

The ethic regarding public bathrooms is considerably different in Mexico. If you want to use a public restroom, you are expected to pay for it, unless you are already a client in a restaurant or store. You will see many signs on store and restaurant windows saying in effect that the bathrooms are only for clients. The public restrooms in parks, in bus stations, or alongside passageways or sidewalks are NOT free.

Most public restrooms will charge you (in 2001) two pesos (Mexico money) or twenty-five cents (U.S. money). Maybe more. Most have attendants who take your money and will offer you paper to wipe with. Some restrooms have turnstyles which often accept either one or two-peso coins, or sometimes U.S. quarters.

Normally (except in nicer restaurants and stores) there is NO paper available in the toilet stall. You will only have what the attendant gives you. If you use the paper, do not put it in the toilet when you are done. We repeat: DO NOT PUT YOUR USED TOILET PAPER IN THE TOILET!! Put it into the little waste can beside the toilet. This is (I have heard) because the plumbing tends to clog up with paper. Repeat repeat: NEVER NEVER flush tampons or paper towels or t.p. or ANYTHING at all except organic waste #1 & #2 (or perhaps vomit, if, after a long night drinking, you find yourself worshipping the porcelain goddess, as they say).

*gag*

Ideally the people who run the bathrooms and charge two pesos (or a quarter) will be the same who clean them. But there is a wide variety of conditions. Some restrooms are reasonably clean, a very few are excellently clean, and many are rather filthy -- especially the mensrooms in bars -- I guess we guys have have problems hitting the target after a few dozen beers and tequilas, eh? Eewwww....

Outdoors, since there are very few public bathrooms, those which do exist get much more usage and get dirtier faster.

Fancier restaurants have the nicer bathrooms. One good reason to stop for a snack or a meal.

By the way, it is EXTREMELY RUDE and Insulting to do your business in the street. Pay the price -- it's only a quarter, or visit a fancy store or nice restaurant.

And, if the place is clean and/or the attendant is courteous and helpful, consider leaving a tip -- a dime or quarter or peso or two. Usually an old cigar box or such, often sitting plainly near the hand-washing sink, ready for your after-experience moment of relief. And say thank you. You will be rewarded in bathroom heaven. And maybe the attendant will give you an extra paper towel to better dry your hands.

The Best FREE BATHROOMS on Revolution Avenue: