Pay here

This is a site that you may see in Mexico that you probably wouldn’t see in Canada.  Well, of course, it’s just a coin slot – you see those all the time in Canada.  But do you know what it’s for?

I’ll give you a clue.  It was at a stop on the highway, and I put two pesos in the slot.  Do you know what happened next?

*clink*

The bathroom door unlocked.

That’s right, this was by the door of the men’s room at a gas station.  Two pesos and you were allowed in.

As I recall there were no paper towels or toilet paper in the bathroom – kinda makes you wonder what you were paying for!

Sometimes you have to pay the man or woman standing at the door.  Sometimes you actually get a couple of squares of toilet paper for your one or two pesos.

I stopped at one bathroom where there was a box inside by the sinks asking for a tip.  With no soap, toilet paper or towels I decided to hang on to my change.

Sometimes there are bathrooms at higher class places, like a Sanborns, where you’re asked to leave a tip.  But there they have all the normal facilities, even toilet seats, plus fake flowers on the counter, and a well dressed gentleman who hands you a towel to dry your hands with.  I’ll tip there.

Actually, the public washrooms seem to be a lot better than I remember from 15 years ago.  It’s a little more unusual (though still pretty normal) to use one with no toilet seats.  But still – if you’re coming from Canada, you may be in for a culture shock.

No, you don’t always have to pay.  Sometimes you just need to ask for someone to unlock the bathroom for you.  Sometimes you actually just walk right in, no loose change required.

Notice the nice self-serve honour-system option below.  The box outside of the men’s and ladies’ asks that you deposit your two pesos, and then invites you to take some TP.