If you’ve been to Greece, you might know about the practice of throwing toilet paper in the bin instead of flushing it. This isn’t something you usually see in other parts of Europe, but in Greece, you’ll find signs in bathrooms instructing, “Do not throw paper in the toilet!” This is for those who might not be familiar with this unique custom.

The plumbing in Greece just can’t handle toilet paper being flushed. If I were a restaurant owner dealing with frequent blockages, I’d put up signs to make this clear too.

You might wonder why Greece hasn’t adopted more robust plumbing systems like the rest of Europe. Maybe their sewage systems can’t handle it either. However, putting all that paper into landfills doesn’t seem ideal.

It’s one of those puzzling things that gets more confusing the more you think about it. It’s probably best not to overthink it while you’re enjoying some ouzo.

It’s often a relief to get home and know you can flush without worry. If you’ve been to Greece, I hope this didn’t ruin your moussaka and chips!

Do you have any bathroom stories from your travels you’d like to share? Or maybe not…