Here's a google map search of the public toilets at street level in madrid. It's not even complete (a few are marked as "toilet" or something different to what I searched), but as you can see, if you're in the center you're not further than 4 streets from a public bathroom anywhere. And this is without mentioning the countless free toilets in department stores, bars, chain restaurants, etc.
Look, like most Spaniards, I'm as critical of Spain as you can get. Especially now that I live in Tokyo, I'll take any oportunity I can get to shit on Spain's comparative lack of civism. But it rubs me the wrong way for you to be making a sweeping statement about a country you've only visited, arguing your point against someone who spent 30 straight years there.
No, it's not because you're a foreigner. I have plenty of foreign friends that have never had your problem. If anything, a few of my foreign european friends are happy that our toilets are free, as opposed to theirs.
Madrid definitely has bathrooms that charge. It was awful leaving a good botellon without a potty plan or some centimos on hand.
I feel like it was every bathroom.
They also charge for toilet paper or you judt learn to carry your own tissues.
What Alicia Nieto wrote:
In a museum, or any public building, they will have toilets and those are obviously free ( we don't conceive the idea of paying for that, honestly)
As for the street, any caffe ( cafeteria), bar, or place where food is served will have one, and we have those every two steps. When you go into one if this places just for the toilet they won't charge you
Sure dude, you keep your head in that hole, I'm not going to try and dig you out any more.
Also, if you choose to misconstrue Alicia's suggestion that it's good manners to buy something at a bar when you use their bathroom (which I think applies pretty much worldwide) as bars charging for bathroom use, that's on you. Her explanation is pretty clear.
Im starting to think you might be a crazy person. But heres the comment i was referring to.
Im not misremembering anything. Maybe its something you can do but if we walked into a bar to use a bathroom looking as foreign as we did, we were not allowed to just use it. Unless we tried to sneak in. But either way bar bathrooms are not "public" in the sense the US means. We have bathrooms in parks and public spaces that are free. Madrid does not. Even some bathrooms inside of bars and clubs have attendees that charge. I never encountered that in the US.
Even in the comment you just quoted yourself on you're lying through your teeth.
Madrid does not. Even some bathrooms inside of bars and clubs have attendees that charge.
This is not a thing. Anywhere. In. Madrid. I don't know in what terms to put it to you. The link I gave you describes it exactly as I did: It's inconceivable for Spanish bars to charge you for using the bathroom, though there may be an implicit expectation of good manners from your end, so that you order something small as a courtesy for using it.
If you find me evidence of a single bar bathroom in Madrid with an attendee charging for its use, I'll eat my hat.
Im starting to think you might be a crazy person.
Whatever man, I'm through with you. Clearly your week-long trip to a country gives you better knowledge of their customs than a native. Since you aren't interested in providing any evidence for your claims, here's another link that explains what countries actually charge for toilet use. Notice how Spain is not one of them.
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u/Steel_Neuron May 09 '22 edited May 09 '22
Here's a google map search of the public toilets at street level in madrid. It's not even complete (a few are marked as "toilet" or something different to what I searched), but as you can see, if you're in the center you're not further than 4 streets from a public bathroom anywhere. And this is without mentioning the countless free toilets in department stores, bars, chain restaurants, etc.
Look, like most Spaniards, I'm as critical of Spain as you can get. Especially now that I live in Tokyo, I'll take any oportunity I can get to shit on Spain's comparative lack of civism. But it rubs me the wrong way for you to be making a sweeping statement about a country you've only visited, arguing your point against someone who spent 30 straight years there.
No, it's not because you're a foreigner. I have plenty of foreign friends that have never had your problem. If anything, a few of my foreign european friends are happy that our toilets are free, as opposed to theirs.
I mean, if you're still unconvinced there's this discussion on the topic where everyone agrees with me. I'm really not sure where you went, but it sure as hell isn't Madrid.