Random Weird Things You Didn't Know About Bathrooms In Countries Other Than The US (18 items)

(#3) Outdoor Toilets In France Used To Be Works Of Art

If you thought France would allow for anything in their country to be not breathtakingly beautiful then you're very wrong. Nineteenth Century photographer Charles Marville documented street life in Paris throughout the 1860s and '70s, which meant capturing the architectural beauty of Parisian outdoor bathrooms, or pissoirs. At the peak of the outdoor bathrooms, there were over 1,200 in Paris, but that number has dwindled to one on Boulevard Arago.
(#10) Don't Pee In The Bidet When You Go To Spain

This should go without saying, but it's possible that you've never encountered a bidet. If that's so and you plan on going to Spain some time soon then please heed this next sentence: Don't pee in the bidet. It looks just like a toilet, but there's no lid. A lot of modern toilets come equipped with a bidet so you can do your business and then clean off without moving, but some of the more historically intact hotels and residences still have the classic two porcelain throne system.
(#11) In Antarctica Your Waste Is Pumped Into The Ocean

This shouldn't really come as a shock to anyone who spends time thinking about Antarctica (and don't we all), but a lot of research facilities on the icy continent aren't equipped with the beautiful sewage systems that most folks in first world countries are used to, which means that there's a lot of scientist waste being pumped into the Southern Ocean. This is kind of gross, but to be fair it's not like there are millions of people up there going to the bathroom in the water.
(#18) If You Want Toilet Paper In Egypt, Get Ready To Pay

Like many countries, toilet paper in Egypt is scarce, but that doesn't mean that it's not available. If you find yourself in the bathroom after you finish touring the pyramids then you should make sure you have some extra cash on you. According to multiple tourism websites one of the most important things to bring with you when traveling to Egypt is spending money to give to bathroom attendants who have no problem withholding toilet paper from you if you fail to pay up. And yes, this also goes for soap if you want to wash your hands.
(#16) New Zealand Has An Entire Block Of Toilets That Doubles As A Work of Art

When did New Zealand suddenly become so cool? Not only can you take the Lord of the Rings tour on this tiny island, but you can also visit the Hundertwasser Toilets, a public toilet located in New Zealand's North Island. The massive public toilet/art installation was designed by Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser who used recycled materials from the community to construct the facilities. Not only are the toilets the main attraction of the city of Kawakawa, they're the most photographed toilets in New Zealand (and probably the world.)
(#15) Watch Out For Snakes When You Go To Australia

Not every cliché about Australia is true. They aren't constantly throwing shrimps on barbies (read: barbecue grills), and they aren't spending their days showing off their large knife collections. However they do have snakes in their toilets. Queensland snake catcher Elliot Budd believes that when it gets especially dry in different areas of the country that snakes are getting thirsty and crawling through windows looking for hydration and they find it in toilets. Because this kind of behavior mostly happens during mating season: "They are using a lot more energy than they normally would so they need more water. They're non-venomous these snakes. They aren't considered dangerous. They're not something to fear but it's best if you come across them to leave them alone."