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Bathrooms
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Post new topic   Reply to topic    Way to Russia Talk Lounge Forum Index -> Russian Contexts, Myths and Truths
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krasatulya
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Joined: 29 May 2005
Posts: 577

PostPosted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 5:39 pm    Post subject: Bathrooms Reply with quote

I didn't encounter this in Moscow or St. Pete, but once I went south to Krasnodar and the Black Sea I noticed that a majority of the public restrooms (especially outdoor ones) were simply holes in the ground, which were separated by short walls in between. Do these appear up north, or is this something found more in the countryside? I have to admit I was pretty shocked the first time I had to use one of these, especially since I was with my brother-in-law's girl friend.

I highly recommend people to bring a supply of toilet paper with them and a small bottle of anti-bacterial hand sanitizer!
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surfguy
Lounge Wizard


Joined: 13 Apr 2006
Posts: 6996

PostPosted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 6:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well that's how it is in most of the world...no luxury!
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krasatulya
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Joined: 29 May 2005
Posts: 577

PostPosted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 6:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I know it sounds naive, but I had no idea I would see that. I heard about these toilets in China when my relatives went there, but I did not see them in Spain or the Czech Republic, so I didn't expect to see them in Russia, either.
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surfguy
Lounge Wizard


Joined: 13 Apr 2006
Posts: 6996

PostPosted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 6:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well usually hotels and private homes don't have these but most public restrooms will
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Zach10791
Moderator


Joined: 19 Mar 2005
Posts: 816

PostPosted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 8:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Do they have outhouses in Russia? There not very luxurious but they are at least better than a hole in the ground! Razz
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krasatulya
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Joined: 29 May 2005
Posts: 577

PostPosted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 9:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

My in-laws have an outhouse in addition to the regular bathroom in the house. Not quite sure why, although the men seem to prefer the one outdoors Smile
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mediashark
Moderator


Joined: 04 Nov 2004
Posts: 1601

PostPosted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 10:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I kept hearing horror stories about public toilets in China (yes, in the city), that during my visit as a small kid, I always went just before I left the hotel and wait for the 'toilet reports' from the ladies. If it didn't have any doors (most don't!) I just would not go!

Are you in-laws from Krasnodarsky Krai too? Smile
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krasatulya
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Joined: 29 May 2005
Posts: 577

PostPosted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 11:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Why yes they are! How do you like the area? I found Krasnodar to be a very nice city, certainly not comparable to the likes of Moscow or St. Pete, but I found it to be very enjoyable. I also prefer Kuban borsch to that up north.
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yorbcbud
Lounge Wizard


Joined: 17 Feb 2006
Posts: 4919
Location: Сорренто, Британская Колумбия, Канада

PostPosted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 7:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

mediashark wrote:
I kept hearing horror stories about public toilets in China (yes, in the city), that during my visit as a small kid, I always went just before I left the hotel and wait for the 'toilet reports' from the ladies. If it didn't have any doors (most don't!) I just would not go!

Are you in-laws from Krasnodarsky Krai too? Smile


You should ride a train in China, in places like Taipei, the bathrooms are basically holes in the floor, and the waste goes right out onto the tracks. And many public toilets have no separate stalls. It's a community dump.
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Zach10791
Moderator


Joined: 19 Mar 2005
Posts: 816

PostPosted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 8:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Many places in India have a "communal dump" so to speak too.
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surfguy
Lounge Wizard


Joined: 13 Apr 2006
Posts: 6996

PostPosted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 8:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I been in some pretty bad ones in Niger and in Afghanistan...I actually found that going behind a sand dune in the Sahara far better than any public place!
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krasatulya
VIP


Joined: 29 May 2005
Posts: 577

PostPosted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 8:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

That's the point I was at, too, Surfguy. It wasn't so much as the embarassment of getting used to going in front of people (I know, I know, guys are used to this but most women are not!), but I couldn't tolerate the smell any more. I was much happier finding a nice tree or bush to hide behind Laughing
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MrSpice
Lounge Wizard


Joined: 14 Jul 2003
Posts: 3436

PostPosted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 10:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

krasatulya wrote:
That's the point I was at, too, Surfguy. It wasn't so much as the embarassment of getting used to going in front of people (I know, I know, guys are used to this but most women are not!), but I couldn't tolerate the smell any more. I was much happier finding a nice tree or bush to hide behind Laughing


I assume you did not have to do it in Moscow or St Petersburg, right? Smile

How did you like/find St Petersburg?
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surfguy
Lounge Wizard


Joined: 13 Apr 2006
Posts: 6996

PostPosted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 10:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

One of the most memorable showers was taken in the middle of the Sahara Desert with bottled water, no one around and the most amazing sunset! Yes the flys at some of the public bathrooms that I had the misfortune of being subjected to-oh my God. Lucky I didn't get sick! Russia wasn't so bad when I was there. I brought TP over and it was far better than the card board that they had/have. Little treat for my then GF.
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krasatulya
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Joined: 29 May 2005
Posts: 577

PostPosted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 11:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

MrSpice wrote:
krasatulya wrote:
That's the point I was at, too, Surfguy. It wasn't so much as the embarassment of getting used to going in front of people (I know, I know, guys are used to this but most women are not!), but I couldn't tolerate the smell any more. I was much happier finding a nice tree or bush to hide behind Laughing


I assume you did not have to do it in Moscow or St Petersburg, right? Smile

How did you like/find St Petersburg?


Ha, thank goodness, no. That would have been quite the public display Smile Luckily, I mostly encountered these bathrooms at the Black Sea. Although I'm not sure, it seemed to me that we were at a pretty remote spot (Utrish), so I guess these facilities were to be expected.

I loved St. Pete; very pretty city. We were lucky to have nice weather all three days we were there. I read in our travel guide that StP has about 30 sunny/cloudless days per year (hard to believe, does that sound right?), and we were able to experience two of them.

The first night we were there, my husband and I ate at a restaurant called "New Island", which is a ship turned restaurant. I thought the meal was very good and the best part of it all was that we went on a 1.5 hour excursion up and down the Neva River. It was a great way to take in the city at night.

The other days we climbed to the top of St. Isaac's Cathedral, visited the Hermitage (which was amazing), walked through Peter & Paul's Fortress and took another smaller boat ride through the canals. All and it was a great time, and there was a lot more we could have seen/done, but after 3 days of walking everywhere, we were exhausted. It was nice to head to the in-laws from there to enjoy a few days just sitting around and eating Smile
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