4 ms·

For someone who grew up in Russia this doesn't come as a surprise at all. This is how it is when the whole world is watching, one can only imagine what everyday

by tinbad 13y ago

For someone who grew up in Russia this doesn't come as a surprise at all. This is how it is when the whole world is watching, one can only imagine what everyday life is like in Russia. I remember the stories of how back in the 1980 Olympics the, normally completely empty, grocery stores in Moscow were all of a sudden filled with 'luxury' food items imported from Finland to show the rest of the world how great the country was. Meanwhile Moscow was a complete lockdown and nobody could get in or out of the city. Deja vu all over again ;)

larrys 13y ago
Can you confirm whether the russian in the "please don't flush toilet paper" is correctly translated? Seems to be more likely that they actually mean "paper" or "paper towels" not "toilet paper". It is quite common to not want anything but toilet paper flushed so I'm wondering if that is what the sign actually is meaning to say.
- rch 13y ago
  There are plenty of places around the world that have septic systems not designed to handle toilet paper. The sign is probably accurate.
- gkoberger 13y ago
  Having recently traveled abroad, I can confirm that a lot of hotels in areas with bad septic won't even let you flush toilet paper.
- tinbad 13y ago
  Just went back to read it again. I must say it is quiet confusing, it says literally 'please don't throw paper in the toilet'. It doesn't specify what paper so it could be interpreted differently indeed.
- oddx 13y ago
  In russian it simple "paper", not "toilet paper" [1] [1] http://translate.google.com/#ru/en/%D0%A3%D0%B1%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BB%D1%8C%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%8F%20%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%B1%D0%B0%20%D0%BD%D0%B5%20%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%81%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%8C%20%D0%B1%D1%83%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%B3%D1%83%20%D0%B2%20%D1%83%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%B7 http://translate.google.com/#ru/en/%D0%A3%D0%B1%D0%B5%D0%B4%....
- imissmyjuno 13y ago
  it is toilet paper for certain. source: russian speaker.
  - oddx 13y ago
    No, it isn't. Sign says only "paper". It isn't clear what they mean, can be interpreted differently.
    - vitalyny 13y ago
      They mean any paper, including toilet paper. This warning is common in Russia, don't ask why.
    - Spooky23 13y ago
      Part of traveling is groking the local terminology for things. In Atlanta, soda is "coke". Ohio, "pop". New York "soda".
  - dimadima 13y ago
    No dude, it literally says "paper". Native Russian speaker here. That said, who knows what it /means/.
- erikj 13y ago
  It says "Please don't flush paper". Not toilet paper, not paper towels - just paper.
- uloweb 13y ago
  http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070604222148AANq0fX http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070604222148AA...
- xentronium 13y ago
  It does say "paper", not "toilet paper" in Russian, but most certainly they do mean toilet paper. Bins for toilet paper used to be quite common in old buildings with bad plumbing. Also, historically, toilet paper used to be in great deficit in USSR, so torn newspapers were used for that purpose instead, causing all kind of clogs.
- prostoalex 13y ago
  That is actually quite common in Russia and not necessarily Sochi-specific. The sewage system is in consistent state of mild disrepair, and it's common for bathrooms in hotels, conference centers and restaurants to have foul-smelling bins for used toilet paper.

by tinbad 13y ago

larrys 13y ago

Can you confirm whether the russian in the "please don't flush toilet paper" is correctly translated? Seems to be more likely that they actually mean "paper" or "paper towels" not "toilet paper". It is quite common to not want anything but toilet paper flushed so I'm wondering if that is what the sign actually is meaning to say.

rch 13y ago
There are plenty of places around the world that have septic systems not designed to handle toilet paper. The sign is probably accurate.
gkoberger 13y ago
Having recently traveled abroad, I can confirm that a lot of hotels in areas with bad septic won't even let you flush toilet paper.
tinbad 13y ago
Just went back to read it again. I must say it is quiet confusing, it says literally 'please don't throw paper in the toilet'. It doesn't specify what paper so it could be interpreted differently indeed.
oddx 13y ago
In russian it simple "paper", not "toilet paper" [1] [1] http://translate.google.com/#ru/en/%D0%A3%D0%B1%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BB%D1%8C%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%8F%20%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%B1%D0%B0%20%D0%BD%D0%B5%20%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%81%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%8C%20%D0%B1%D1%83%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%B3%D1%83%20%D0%B2%20%D1%83%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%B7 http://translate.google.com/#ru/en/%D0%A3%D0%B1%D0%B5%D0%B4%....
imissmyjuno 13y ago
it is toilet paper for certain. source: russian speaker.
- oddx 13y ago
  No, it isn't. Sign says only "paper". It isn't clear what they mean, can be interpreted differently.
  - vitalyny 13y ago
    They mean any paper, including toilet paper. This warning is common in Russia, don't ask why.
  - Spooky23 13y ago
    Part of traveling is groking the local terminology for things. In Atlanta, soda is "coke". Ohio, "pop". New York "soda".
- dimadima 13y ago
  No dude, it literally says "paper". Native Russian speaker here. That said, who knows what it /means/.
erikj 13y ago
It says "Please don't flush paper". Not toilet paper, not paper towels - just paper.
uloweb 13y ago
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070604222148AANq0fX http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070604222148AA...
xentronium 13y ago
It does say "paper", not "toilet paper" in Russian, but most certainly they do mean toilet paper. Bins for toilet paper used to be quite common in old buildings with bad plumbing. Also, historically, toilet paper used to be in great deficit in USSR, so torn newspapers were used for that purpose instead, causing all kind of clogs.
prostoalex 13y ago
That is actually quite common in Russia and not necessarily Sochi-specific. The sewage system is in consistent state of mild disrepair, and it's common for bathrooms in hotels, conference centers and restaurants to have foul-smelling bins for used toilet paper.