Bathroom Report

Have you ever had a favorite public restroom? I know I’m not supposed to talk about it, but some bathrooms are so memorable and different that it’s actually kind of fun to go in there. Natasha has always been a fearless explorer of public restrooms - I can’t think of a single restaurant we’ve eaten in that she didn’t inspect the bathroom. She dependably returns with a report on the soap and paper situation. One of my best blackmail photos of Natasha is one of her emerging from a public, freestanding toilet in the middle of downtown Glasgow. It was basically an upgraded porta-toilet that you had to pay to use, but she said it was clean and there was a sink and everything.
In Athens, Georgia, my favorite ladies room was in the horticulture building on campus. It had one huge, half-circle shaped sink instead of a few individual sinks. The best part: to turn the water on, there was a foot pedal. Completely satisfies my germophobe tendencies by not having to touch any handles.
I only used the loo at Durty Nellie’s pub in Ireland once, but I’ll never forget it. The wall behind the toilet had a window, just slightly propped open, with a view of the most lusciously green countryside. After drinking Guinness in a smoky, stifling pub, the bathroom was a fresh and airy respite.
Panama City has an Indian restaurant with thoughtful details in the restroom. They have a mouthwash dispenser with little plastic cups, and the towels are thick and generous. I also like to find pay phones in the bathroom, for those pre-cell phone times when you might have to sneak away and call a friend during a dreadful date. I also like the posh restrooms with fancy little soaps and fresh flowers.
There is a new bathroom at work, and it already feels like an oasis. There is a window next to the sink so you get the natural light. It has a full length mirror near the door so you can make sure you have a graceful exit. Plus, the door pushes out so you can skip that whole paper-towel-hands routine on the door handle. Hell yes.