Gringo : Tur Info :Tijuana Bathroom Info
By Michael and Daniel Thomas
[To the: Best Bathrooms on Revolution Avenue.]
CABALLEROS = Gentlemen, HOMBRES=Men. DAMAS = Ladies, MUJERES = Women.
BAÑOS = SANITARIOS = W.C. = Bathrooms = Restrooms. "Toilet" = "Excusado".
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 usually NOT free.
For this reason, Mike and Dano STRONGLY recommend that you PLAN TO USE your lunch, breakfast, or dinner break(s) to use the excellent restroom facilities provided by some restaurants like Sanborn's, or especially, Ricardo's (at 7th & Madero, one block beyond the AM/PM Minimart at Revolución). When they pay us money for plugging them, then we will tell you more about their food, which is reasonably priced, and good. They are also open 24 hours.
Most public restrooms will charge you (in 2003) two or three pesos (Mexico money) or twenty-five or thirty cents (U.S. money). Maybe more. You pay as you go in. Most bathrooms have attendants who take your money and offer you paper to wipe with ("papel higenico") and maybe a paper towel ("toalla") to dry your hands after washing. If their service is particularly helpful, you may tip them a peso or two (dime or quarter) extra as you leave. Remember to wash your hands both before and after. YES, MOTHER.... (but soooo many men forget....).
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. LADIES: consider carrying little packets of clean paper in your purses! Normally, you will get paper from the attendant when you pay your coins and go into the restroom. If you use the paper, DO NOT 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 REPEAT: NEVER NEVER Never never flush paper nor tampons nor paper towels nor t.p. nor 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).
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....
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, boys, and men, it is EXTREMELY RUDE and Insulting to do your business in the street. Pay the price -- it's only a quarter, or just go visit a store or 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.
Don't forget: Restaurants and some shops (like the fancy department stores) will have bathrooms, and there are some hidden away (pay or otherwise) in some of the shopping arcades. Often, if they are free bathrooms, then they are for "clients only," so be polite and buy something.