On Monday, I got rained into a bar – my worst nightmare, as you can imagine. However, I really did mean to stay for just one but then the heavens opened. Google had (oh so reliably) informed me that there was a 0% chance of precipitation that day, so I’d set off in a summer dress and flip-flops, without any of the all-weather paraphernalia the Germans are famous for.
While a lot of people might look at this as a fail on my part, these people clearly do not know me very well. First of all, it was a chance to confuse a whole new set of Berlin pub regulars with my intoxicating Irish accent. Second of all, a trip to the bathroom provided unexpected gold. (“Really, Linda? Toilets again?” I hear you groan.)

Now, I’m all for “WC” signs throughout the establishment directing me towards the floodgate unleasher, but never have I seen a “WC” sign directly above the loo. Maybe this was the kind of pub where people got so drunk there was a chance they might mistake the sink/floor for the toilet? Or maybe the local clientele just weren’t that bright to begin with? There were no signs over the bin or the sink but I guess it’s not so important if you miss those…
Anyway, I figured out from the clever signage that the WC was, in fact, the toilet. I’m a smart cookie…
As I approached, I noticed the little picture on the toilet lid. I rubbed my eyes. Nope, the glass of wine hadn’t gone to my head – it really was a poo in a speech bubble. But what could it mean? I started coming up with some ideas:
- Feel free to talk shit here?
- Let your poo do the talking?
- If I were a turd, what would I say…?
- Poo has the right to freedom of speech?
- A poo is worth a thousand words?
The only talking poo I’d ever seen was on South Park so this was a bit of a mystery to me. I’m shit out of ideas so does anybody else have any? Is this some kind of German thing I’ve never heard of? Answers on a postcard (i.e. in the comments below).
I have no idea to offer that hasn’t already been suggested! I favour the one about closing the lid to keep the aroma in. đ
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I like to think that’s the most likely one too!
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I’ve no idea Linda. I’ve never seen the like! Perhaps they want to make it quite clear that “here lies the poo,” as opposed to “over there!”
Perhaps, the punters have been so hammered that they felt compelled to do their business “on the fly,” so to speak. Or perhaps, the pub manager is more German than the actual Germans. Not always a compliment. So I’ve been told…! đ
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I like being more German than the Germans – I would always take it as a compliment whether it was meant as one or not đ I might just have to go back to that Kneipe and ask!
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And the poo is fresh and steaming too! Never seen something like that on a toilet lid before but my mind did made a little jump to the Poo-emoji here: https://emojipedia.org/pile-of-poo/
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“Previously shown as a more literal pile of poo (with flies circling above it)” – laughing my ass off haha!
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Your posts are fun and funny as always. Hope you are doing well….
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I am indeed! Summer in Berlin always makes me happy! How are you keeping?
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Whoops, got rained into a bar again… don’t you just hate it when that happens? đ
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You know I do! đ Shows how much use apps are as well…
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There’s got to be a bar alert one or something, right? Though I suppose in Berlin your phone would just be vibrating constantly (also not a terrible thing, haha)!
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I don’t need an app for that – I’ve got built in bar-dar đ
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Honestly, you should work for the German tourism board. These posts on all their toilets are really in the “you must see it in person to believe it” vein.
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Well, I do post nice pics of nice places too đ But this kind of quirk is what really tickles me! I guess you don’t have this kind of stuff in Canada??
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Haha, well I can’t speak for the entire country, but not something I have seen. Will be on the lookout. Certainly never seen a poo shelf!
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You just don’t know what you’re missing out on đ Guess you’ll have to visit!
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You know how much I want to!
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Hopefully soon! Would be great to see you again!
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Not only is the poo in a speech bubble, but apparently it’s “aromatic” poo as well (you know, those little squiggly lines). Maybe the bar management is overcompensating for its customers: first (as you note) they have to identify the WC and then they have to identify what goes into the WC. That they would single out poo, especially aromatic poo, suggests that perhaps they don’t care where one pees, but they definitely care where one poos. On the other hand, perhaps they assume that all their customers do know where one pees, but, for some odd reason, not where one poos. Or maybe they want the lid to be closed after one poos because of its presumed aroma. Goodness, Germans seem to have a bit of a complex when it comes to peeing and pooing đ
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I’m amazed at how much thought you’ve put into this – this comment made my head spin haha! Maybe German poo smells of roses? đ
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I’m at work and bored so … this was a “nice” diversion. Cool that I could make your head spin đ
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Ha ha! Feel free to try any time đ This morning, a student made me a cup of tea. The tea bag said 3-5 minutes so they put an egg-timer on the saucepan to make sure I wasn’t some kind of Irish rebel who took it out after 1 or 2 minutes đ
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đ
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That’s one of the top five weirdest things I’ve seen in a German toilet.
I give it Turd Prize.
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Heh heh – you sound Irish đ
I’d like to hear the other 4 when you get a chance!
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The pooh is IN a speech bubble, so I don’t think it’s the pooh that’s talking. Obviously it’s a toilet talking shit. Logical really – what else would you talk if people kept shoving it down your throat?
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A trash-talking toilet – I like it! But that is some truly horrible imagery you’ve conjured up there đ I do like the “obviously” though đ
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Pootastic! Very funny.
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Thank you! I am quite the ScheiĂmeister đ
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I actually stepped in a poo just after I’d typed post comment. Luckily it’s so hot where I live it was dry, so no need to shower my shoes.
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Ha, I’ll keep a careful eye out today then! It’s been raining on and off and I won’t be able to shower my shoes in a lesson! Thanks for the heads up đ
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Maybe it is home of Mr. Handy.
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He could be on holiday in Berlin, I guess! It is the place to be đ
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…but what if you only have to pee… is your pee not welcome?!
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Maybe there’s a pee toilet in the bar next door – interesting… Pee doesn’t have the same rights as poo in Germany? Is there an expression about ScheiĂsprechen I don’t know??
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I know what this is! It’s Loo-fi which lets you post your shit directly to fb, Twitter, etc. American presidents use it daily.
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Genius! đ
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It only goes to show that real life is stranger than fiction. Although Jonathan Franzen wrote a novel (“The Corrections”) which features an old man’s poo talking back to him.
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Oh yes! I read that last year – you’re right! Maybe it means that if you hear your poo talking back to you, it’s probably time to go home…? đ
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Right. Oh god, I just tried to google the sign. I don’t recommend it.
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Ha! You made me do a rather unbecoming snort-laugh with that! And you’ve also tempted me…
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Trust me. Don’t.
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I googled poo in a speech bubble and only got lovely images – not sure what you googled đ
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Let’s just say that any search including both “poo” and “toilet seat” can only end in nausea.
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Ha ha! Yes, I think I’ll skip that one!
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