I have a rather odd and complete fascination with a space that, for 50 cents is yours for 20 minutes in Berlin. It is a magical place to relax, relieve and maybe do some philosophical thinking. The public toilets.
Space toilet
Descriptions and explanations abound, in several languages, on its doors. When you pay the two doors seperate with a sweeping sound, “tscchfffff”, like a spaceship opening, and your friend can wish you a happy trip as you step inside and the doors spoosh behind you. It’s massive and everything moves under your feet as you wobble to the seat. Some undulating, relaxing music plays as you do your business and after you exit the doors lock and an automatic loud washing process begins. It’s all very cool, especially if you have spent most of your life in France where public toilets are rather, hmm, smelly, uncomfortable and you just want out asap. Also very handy with the constant beer drinking, it’s not hard to find a toilet in urgent moments. Some also have phones attached to them, because you want to be making a phone call with the delicious background sound of someone working their intestines. Fear not, the walls are very soundproof.
Toilet in Lustgarten... with a phone
And when you reach the end of the 20 minutes but don’t feel ready to leave and confront the life on the streets, there is large button that says “+ 20 min” that you can tap.
