Cancun Toilet Pet Peeves!

Ever since I took my first photograph of a foreign toilet, I thought my curiosity about foreign toilets was strange, until I heard about another tourist who collects toilet paper from every bathroom he visits.

Pay toilet near Coco Bongo in the Hotel Zone

  
Anyway, I know that a post containing the words "toilet" and "pet" should probably never see the light of day, but for what it's worth, here is a list of my top Cancun toilet pet peeves:


1) Proximity detectors

I've written elsewhere about the Dubai Palace casino. While it remains my favorite, I have to say their toilets drive me completely crazy. They have proximity detectors & try to flush for you automatically when you're done your business. It's a great idea in theory. It's not so great in practice, when the toilet flushes every time you move an inch.


Now whenever I go, I am always careful to drape some paper over the sensor so it doesnt flush whenever I scratch my nose.


BTW, one funny story: one day when I was using the facilities at Dubai Palace, I heard what I thought was the toilet flushing in the neighboring stall. It took me a moment to realize that it wasn't the toilet that was making that loud sucking / gurgling sound.


Wow...


2) Flimsy seats


I've also noticed that the seats in many places (including the Dubai Palace) are very flimsy. Luckily for these establishments, Mexico does not (yet) have a powerful lawyer lobby or the sort of legal system which encourages frivolous lawsuits. Not long ago, at home (in Toronto), a coffee shop customer (I think it was at Starbucks) sued after claiming that his toilet seat had shifted and crushed one of his testicles.


SO, gentlemen, be careful!


3) Garbage cans


Because the water pressure here is low & the ratio of lazy plumbers high, many establishments (including the Dubai Palace) advise guests not to flush paper down the toilet. As a rule, if you find a garbage can in your stall, you are expected to toss your paper in there. All of it. New & used.


Ewwwww, right!?


On more than one occasion, I have found myself occupying a stall after another customer who... how can I put this... needs to practice his 3-pointers. Seriously. Brown paper on the floor! If ever a situation calls for a slam dunk, is this not it!?


And, how strange is this, really? I know the city's plumbing was laid when Montezuma's revenge was a common affliction (wouldn't that word look funny in latinate script) but don't you think it's odd that their plumbing can handle abuse (yep, that's the word) from patrons at an all-you-can-eat casino buffet, but they can't handle a couple of sheets of wimpy 1-ply toilet paper?


4) Pay toilets


In many places, particularly in touristy areas, you will be charged to use the public restrooms. This is not a tourist ripoff; locals pay too, for example, at the Parque de las Palapas near our home. I list this as a peeve not because I resent paying the people who work so hard to keep the toilets clean, but because there is nothing worse than finding yourself in desperate need of a toilet and unable to relieve yourself because you've lost your wallet (it happens!) or blown your last peso on a bottle of Leon. Luckily, most retaurants & hotels will let you use their facilities... unless you look like a local.


5) Unisex toilets

Unisex toilets in a sushi joint in Cancun Outlet Mall

  
This one is for the ladies, who may not appreciate sharing an intimate space with members of the opposite sex. I don't want to say anything politically incorrect here; suffice it to say that a number of Mexican stereotypes apply...


I want to end on a positive note & a compliment to the unsung heroes who keep the toilets in this city clean. They really are a fine lot. I have seen cleaning staff (of both sexes) continue working, undeterred by my presence at a urinal, picking used toilet paper out of the garbage (probably to save some plastic bags).


And, today, when I had trouble getting the water to run at a sink in a restroom in Plaza las Americas, the cleaner not only helped me to activate the finicky motion detector, he produced & handed me a 5-foot ream of paper towel!

Anyway, that's all for now..


I hope my little rant / guide will help someone out there.


Happy flushing!

Hi-tech 'door closer' at Mayapan Hostel