Such a juxtaposition was quite common in Soviet public premises e.g. hospitals, student hostels etc. I’ve seen that myself on more than one occasion. Although it isn’t like the main idea was for people to sit next to each other: urinals were quite rare and were sometimes replaced with bowls looking odd together. So it wasn’t really common for more than one person to actually use the room if it wasn’t just for a wee.
That remained, however, very inconvenient and I was very surprised to learn they’re still doing that.
Problem is that for many places in Russia even that is a big step forward. I remember when public toilet meant a hole in the floor you were supposed to squat above. And before you say that position is actually better for your body (and it is), these places were so unsanitary it was clear health concerns weren’t the explanation.
What this blog will eventually be about I do not know.
But it will be about how I’m coping with the loss of my wife and son to cancer in recent years and how I manage with being a coeliac and recovering from a stroke. It will be about travel, sport, engineering, food, art, computers, large projects and London, that are some of the passions that fill my life.
And hopefully, it will get rid of the lonely times, from which I still suffer.
Such a juxtaposition was quite common in Soviet public premises e.g. hospitals, student hostels etc. I’ve seen that myself on more than one occasion. Although it isn’t like the main idea was for people to sit next to each other: urinals were quite rare and were sometimes replaced with bowls looking odd together. So it wasn’t really common for more than one person to actually use the room if it wasn’t just for a wee.
That remained, however, very inconvenient and I was very surprised to learn they’re still doing that.
Problem is that for many places in Russia even that is a big step forward. I remember when public toilet meant a hole in the floor you were supposed to squat above. And before you say that position is actually better for your body (and it is), these places were so unsanitary it was clear health concerns weren’t the explanation.
Comment by Yuriy | January 24, 2014 |