Ladies -- Spain washroom alert
 

I was in Andalucia last month, and only once did I encounter a public washroom which had paper and soap and towels. Most are missing at least two of these. Several did not have functioning water faucets as well.<BR><BR>In addition, the ladies do not sit (perhaps the lack of paper) and so there is usually pee on the seat. This was the case in restaurants, museums, etc. Make sure you carry some tissues and Purell with you at all times.

What is Purell?

Purell is a brand name for one of those "hand sanitizers" that give you the illusion that you have washed our hands.

Purell is mostly alcohol, in a gel. If there is no soap, it is a good way to kill bacteria on your hands. Better than e coli or salmonella poisoning in my books!

I think, most travelers especially to Spain will tell you thats pretty normal. The one that got to me though, was the lights on a motion sensor timer (usually on the switch right by the b-room door) that go off after about 1 minute leaving you in total darkness!!<BR>I appreciate the need to conserve energy but some are timed so short that they inevitably go off at a very inopportune time.

This post amazes me since it is so different from my experience. I remember doing a trip report or some such and extolling the cleanliness of Spain, having never encountered a dirty bathroom. We were all over in Spain with the exception of Galicia and Costa del Sol and never found anything to complain of. I do have a tendency to avoid public toilets in favor of those in restaurants, etc. so that may be the difference. I guess I may have a good strategy.

Please don't be stupid enough to use those anti-bacterial gels. I just spent several weeks in the hospital at my father's bed side, and I must have heard 5 different doctors talk about how dangerous anti-bacterial products are.<BR><BR>BTW, I also just read a study that showed that public restrooms have far less germs than the average office desk. The office PC keyboard contains more germs that any service that researchers studied.

Carrie, did those doctors have any suggestions for getting one's hands clean when soap and water are unavailable? If I remember correctly, health officials make a big deal about teaching children to always wash their hands (to avoid the spread of virii). Is if better to risk a cold or hepatitis than use an anti-bacterial hand cleaner?

Those little packets of Wash-n-Dris are more appropriate than hand sanitizers. You can buy them in packs of 25 or 100 and just put a few in your tote every day when you head out.

Julie, I was referring to toilets in restaurants, museums, etc. as opposed to those in my hotel room. I only saw one that was properly equipped over a 7 day period.<BR><BR>Julie, as someone who works in health care, I can tell you that not only are most anti-bacterial products not dangerous, the doctors would be using them every day to clean their hands, as hospital soaps are anti-bacterial. What you are thinking of is the over-prescribing of antibiotics. Alcohol-based products are not a contributor to this problem.<BR><BR>It is pretty easy to get very sick if you eat with hands soiled in a washroom. I don't want to ruin my vacation that way.

BJ--we agree with the "surprise" of the motion detectors shutting off the lights while the bathroom stall door is shut---darkness overcomes us. We now carry a small flashlight "everywhere."

Carol, I think your understanding of antibacterial stuff needs updating. <BR><BR>It's true that the main problem is overuse of antibiotics, and it's also true that bacteria can't develop a resistance to acohol ( the active ingredient in Purell and other no-washing-type hand sanitizers). <BR><BR>But the antibacterial ingredients in soaps can indeed lead to the development of resistant bacteria. Just as there are appropriate uses for antibiotic medications, so the use of antibiotic soaps by physicians is appropriate. But the constant use of these products by the general public is not a good idea. Here's a discussion of the concerns of the AMA:<BR><BR>http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/hea...000/791934.stm

I have traveled to Spain on numerous occasions and have never had a problem with their bathrooms. Why Carol has found it necessary to post her complaint about 1 bathroom in Andalucia not being clean is laughable. Carol, please do not go to Italy where in some places there is a hole in the ground instead of a toilet. And, no tissue paper or soap anywhere. We would not want you to have a heart attack! You get what you pay for. Just count your blessings that you could even afford to stretch your canadian dollar that far. And, just stick to the outhouses in good ol' Canada, dear.

Why do people think they'll pick up some disease by sitting on a toilet seat? Isn't this why some women end up peeing on seats, because they're too skittish to sit on them?

xxx, those women are idiots. Unfortunately, the first idiot of the day, say, is afraid to sit to sit on the toilet b/c, as mentioned, she is an idiot. She then, b/c she remains an idiot ,pees all over the seat. She fails to clean up the consequnces of her idiocy, leaving the next woman, who may or may not be an idiot, no choice but to squat above the seat as well.<BR><BR>As you can tell, this sort of hovering has always bugged me. Sit on the damn seat, ladies. <BR><BR>

Lived in Spain almost 5 years and always carried a roll of nice soft toilet paper for those times when:<BR>1. There wasn't any in the restroom<BR>2. The existing roll felt like paper towels on my bum.<BR>During the drought a few years back (94-96), the town I lived in would turn off the water to conserve....try going to a club with that situation. Don't visulize though. Ewwww.

I have an even better idea. Just wear a damn diaper or depends and if the bathrooms aren't to your liking just pee in your diaper and dispose of it and put on a new one. Is that so difficult?<BR><BR>Get a life for God's sakes.

Yes. You CAN catch something from a toilet seat. I did and it was most uncomfortable and annoying. So there is good reason for not sitting.

Very: you are truly an idiot if you really think you caught something from a toilet seat. Yes, it is theoretically possible, but the greatest chance of infection is from hands to mouth/eyes/nose. Truthfully, unless you have open sores on your ass, a toilet seat is much safer than the keyboard in front of you or any of the hundreds of doorknobs you touch every day. So, thanks to morons like you, the seats are besplattered. good job!

Shannon, where do you get off bashing me for providing some potentially useful information to others who may have a desire for personal cleanliness?<BR><BR>Please read my original post carefully! I only found one w/c THAT WAS CLEAN AND FULLY EQUIPPED WITH APPROPRIATE SUPPLIES IN ANDALUCIA. ALL OF THE OTHERS missed at least one critical item for sanitation. I used at least a dozen washrooms in restaurants, bars, museums, etc., that missed all three of soap, towels, and paper towels and at least twice there was no water for washing.<BR><BR>This did not happen once during the rest of the trip in Portugal. This happened only about three times each in Greece and Turkey during my trip a year ago. It has been a long time since my trip to Italy, but I remember that I did not have to carry paper or handwash there, and only took it up in the trip a year ago to Greece and Italy.<BR><BR>I have used hole-in-the-grounds, and I have used trench toilets, and I have used the bush (I used to survey in Northern Canada for a living) and I have used outhouses. All of these are extremely rare washrooms in restaurants, bars, and museums in the above mentioned four countries, as well as in Italy, and they simply do not exist in this type of establishment in Canada.

Very, xx is right. Whatever you caught, rest assured that it was not from a toilet seat. Add me to the list of people who are highly irritated by idiots who pee all over the toilets because they're too stupid find out the facts.

The fact is you can catch crabs from toilet seats.

Congrats, BeenThere, you joined the idiots club! Here's the CDC's position on catching crabs from a toilet seat:<BR><BR>http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/lice/factsht_pubic_lice.htm<BR><BR>so, anyone else have any bright justifications for peeing on the seat like a chimp?<BR><BR>

Hey, xx - just because nobody at the CDC ever caught 'em from a toilet seat doesn't mean it can't happen, you idiot! If someone is not sexually active and not doing sleepovers and suddenly gets crabs, where the hell do you think they're coming from? I have SEEN them crawling around a toilet seat before regardless of what the dummies at the CDC say. Or you for that matter.

Crabs cn only be gotten from person to person contact. That means shared sheets, towels and intimate contact

I always found this fear of sitting on toilet seats to be very interesting. I wonder if Europeans, in general, have the same degree of fear about this since, IMO, Americans are more obsessed -- or, if you prefer, concerned -- with hygiene. <BR><BR>The Straight Dope about toilet seats and diseases:<BR><BR>http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mtoilet.html

"You can get cooties, and that's about it." Cooties are crabs.<BR><BR>"Most bugs don't tend to live on cool, hard surfaces." That's why they jump onto a warm body as soon as one gets near.<BR><BR>

Ah, BeenThere, do you often see bugs everywhere? And, once you get out of kindergarten, you'll discover that cooties don't really exist.....the article is tongue-in-cheek about that, dear. Ask your mom to explain what tongue-in-cheek means.<BR><BR>In sum, it is almost impossible to catch an infection from a toilet seat unless you sit on fecal matter and/or have open sores. So, all of you who hover, please admit that you are being selfish, irrational idiots, and vow to change your ways. thank you.<BR><BR>

Not worried about catching infection. Worried about crabs! Too bad you haven't learned anything from this enlightening dialogue today, xx.

Hoverer, welcome to the idiots club. If you read the CDC article (or have someone read it to you if necessary), it indicates that crabs are not transmitted via toilet seats. By infection, I also meant a crab infestation. Now, go back to your room and think about what you've done....

Carol and whatever other aliases you are using... YOU ARE A PARANOID FREAK THAT NEEDS TO GET A LIFE! What kind of rubbish are you trying to feed us? If you are so scared and pathetic then stay in your hole. People like you should not travel abroad.

Wow! What nasty people!! I can't believe how harsh everyone has been on this post!<BR>Carol was just trying to be helpful... Granted, there are disgusting bathrooms in any country, but what is with all of the name calling?<BR>Anyone who gets so sensitive about this should be the one to get a life!!

I can't believe that someone who travelled to a wonderful country, and hopefully experienced beautiful sights, ate delicious food, and learned about some amazing history, came back home and all they could think of to post about was a dirty toilet seat. There are some serious issues involved here that a therapist should probably explore.

My father is a physician and he has always told us NOT to sit on the toilet because of the transmission of staph infections. He says the most common area where staph is spread is in the hospital and that is why surfaces in the rooms are sanitized between patients. He says anyplace where human skin touches is a potential hotbed of staph.

Mediator, don't worry about it. Although Bill is accusing me, he is the troll. I am used to jerks like him and basically am of the opinion that he is the one with the problem, and blow him off as such.<BR><BR>Bill, I have never used an alias. That accusation is queer coming from a guy who does not have the decency to use his email address! I feel sorry for you. Get a life.<BR><BR>Homey, your comments are not fair. If you looked elsewhere, you can see that I have frequently offered advice to others on my trip. I have plenty more to say about how wonderful it is, if you would just ask. However, that is not the topic of this post. I was just trying to be of help.<BR><BR>With regards to diseases from toilet seats, I have to admit I am not up on that topic, and put down paper based on information read in journals probably 10 years ago, when they indicated that although you could not get many STDs, there were still other skin-borne infections including arthropod-type things like crabs, that you could get.<BR><BR>However, I do know about hand-washing from five years of work in health care, as well as recent infection control articles and epidemiology classes(just finished an MHA). Yes, you can get infections from keyboards. However, there are more bacteria in urine and feces, for natural reasons!

Yikes! Who knew that toilets could instigate such passionate debates! I spent 3 weeks in Spain last year, from to bottom (pun intended) and was totally impressed with the bathrooms, which I found to be clean, (spotlessly so), and neat. Folks this was alot of bathrooms in my case, as I have...ahem..."tiny tanks" and I drink ALOT of water! :) A more fascinating question would be: why are the toilet seats MISSING in Italy? I encountered this quite frequently, either the top seat or bottom, or both would be gone! Is there some sort of market for used seats in Italy? Inquiring minds want to know!<BR><BR>Melodie

Carol's stupidiness has sparked some rather good responses. I also would like to know why this woman would travel to such a wonderful country and come back home and post a moronic story about a toilet. Only a neanderthal from Canada would be blind to all the magnificent culture and history of Spain. Instead she focused on the toilets. Typical dumb canadian!

Carol is a Canker Sore. People like her wouldn't enjoy themselves anywhere. They always find fault with everything and everyone.

In reply to the motion sensors that cause the bathroom lights to go out - I always travel with a flashlight - AND THEY COME IN HANDY MANY TIMES - like when I was repacking my suitcase in a Madrid hotel late and the power went off - I continued packing with my trusty flashlight and was able to finish my bathing, etc.

tp