On Toilets and Bathrooms

The one thing that probably bothered me the most in Peru was their bathrooms and toilets. Virtually all restaurants and hostels had inadequate facilities. The TP became my one most essential item. We became obsessed about it. Every restaurant we went to, we first had to go check out their facilities and were always excited when they had any of the following: soap, toilet paper, toilet seat, towel, sink, running water. I had the misfortune of thinking I still had the toilet paper with me once...when in fact I didn't...I'll say no more...

The showers were pretty horrible too. Whenever we had the rare luck to get a shower with hot water, I would always get half a minute of hot water followed by freezing cold water.

Some of the worst:
Turkish restaurant in Arequipa - No sink to wash your hands or any kind of washing facilities, no toilet seat or toilet paper. All there was there was the toilet in a space the size of the smallest closet you can find. Made us wonder how the cooks wash their hands...

Hotel Presidente in Puno - Shower was right above the toilet (which had no seat). Drainage was non-existent. Every time you showered, soap water would cover the entire moldy bathroom and remain there for days, making it really difficult to use the toilet later. Also meant that every time you went to use the toilet, you had to hold the TP in your hands so it won't get wet.

Some of the best:
Hostal Nunez in Arequipa - Had a toilet with a seat. Had a sink with both warm and cold taps (the only place we ever had that). Had a separated shower with good drainage and both hot and cold water. Although as my luck with showers was, one of the times I decided to take a shower all I got was cold water...apparently 24 hours of hot water to them does not include 5am in the morning.

Next Story: Sophie's Lost Blogs >>>

<<< Back to Peru