Throughout Europe, keep an eye (and a nose) out for freestanding public urinals called pissoirs (a French word describing the activity that takes place there). These convenient stations are easy to overlook, but the smell will usually give you a clear indication of what occurs behind the decorative screen. Pissoirs are for men only; women are out of luck and should continue searching for a public toilet.
On the streets of Beijing and in other cities around the world, strong odors are no longer a problem thanks to high-tech, self-cleaning public toilets. A small fee (exact change is sometimes required) allows you entrance to the unit. When you exit, the doors lock and the interior is automatically washed and sanitized for the next customer.
The Hang Fung Gold Technology Group — a jeweler in Hong Kong — features the "Hall of Gold," a showroom that contains several everyday items crafted in gold, including a 24-karat solid gold toilet. Before the hall was suddenly closed in 2008, a rise in the price of gold led some to worry that the famous toilet might be melted down. The jewelers said at the time that the toilet would remain intact, but its fate is currently unknown.
In Beijing public toilets were once the bane of travelers, who complained they were dirty and smelly and lacked privacy. However, in preparation for the 2008 Olympics, the city spent millions to improve its bathrooms, and China instituted a star-rating system. Some of the nicer public restrooms today offer attendants, carpeted waiting areas and refreshments. One facility was even built to look like a giant insect, perhaps a nod to the days when insects were frequent (and unwelcome) guests around public toilets.
Enjoying the great outdoors often means having to find a shrub or tree to squat behind when nature calls. In Kootenay National Park in British Columbia, public latrines offer a more civilized — though not exactly private — option for hikers. It's hard to imagine a loo with a more beautiful view.
