Banyos in Mexico

Bathrooms is a questionable subject to write about I know. It is one of the most unique things about Mexico, and the least desirable. It has been the hardest life-style change. Public restrooms cost denarios to use. Public restrooms are disgusting. Yep. You walk to town and if you forget to throw some change in your pocket then you can just walk straight back home. It is the case all across this country. Kids carry “Carmen” with them to school. Families carry rolls and toilet seat covers in our car. One has to be armed and ready.

Mexico restrooms are not stocked with the ordinary items like in America: toilet paper, paper towels and hand soap. As we traveled from the border, into Sonora, and through several more states, I noticed a pattern. Each restroom stop, there was a “bathroom manager”. (The family laughed at my term). Someone stationed out front with a bowl for you to drop in your $ and then would hand you a pre-rolled slice of tissue paper. This “bathroom manager” empties all the garbages and “keeps it clean”. In Mexico, no paper is to be flushed and rarely is a bathroom really “clean”.

I have thoroughly enjoyed Mexico but this I won’t miss. On our first day in Mexico I was a little tweaked about having to pay for something so stinky and unclean. A lot of times there isn’t even a lid to sit down on. Our entire family walked by the sign: Banyos $3. If it weren’t for Mario, we could have been guilty of theft. ???? He asked my kids, “Can’t you read signs?” I humbly shrank behind them. I had read the signed but had walked passed it myself.

On occasion we do find a clean smelling, “normal” bathroom. This is usually in a resort town or nicer hotel. When this happens I just sing a song of praise to the Lord and take a long inhalation. Never thought I’d be praise God for something as simple as a clean-smelling bathroom. ~T