I was very disappointed with the restroom facilities this year. The Mystic Outdoor Art Festival (MOAF) and New London's Sailfest are my two favorite summer destinations. For at least the last two years Mystic has had a couple of portable toilets set up near the permanent restrooms off Cottrell Street near the Mystic River Park and I never had to wait in line in the past. I felt confident drinking a large diet Coke in the car on the way to the art show knowing I could use one of the portables without fear of having an embarrassing accident. WRONG!
Normally, the use of a portable toilet is the last resort, but in an emergency you just hold your nose, try not to touch anything and get in and out as quickly as possible. It's better than nothing, which was almost the case in Mystic this year-nothing. Needless to say, I had to stand in the line that snaked outside the permanent restroom with a lot of disgruntled women for at least fifteen minutes even though the ladies were considerate and moving along quite quickly. To add insult to injury there was a sign over the entrance that warned that the entrance is monitored electronically. It made me imagine people in a comfortable air-conditioned security room laughing at all the ladies huffing and grumbling over the inadequate facilities.
Due to the constant traffic, the ladies room was a filthy mess with toilet paper all over the floor of the two tiny stalls. I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised that there was toilet paper and soap considering the high amount of traffic in the small dark restroom. The hand dryer was inadequate in its drying ability, but better than nothing. It's what I call "whisper dry" when the force of the air from the dryer is so weak it seems to whisper air onto your dripping hands. The instructions for whisper dryers are to shake excess water off hands, rub briskly under light whispery air and complete the drying process by wiping your hands on your clothes.
Unfortunately, the anxiety over finding a restroom and getting to one of the toilets before an embarrassing accident occurred took a lot of the fun out of the art show. There were businesses open that have restrooms available for paying customers and if that were my only option I would have patronized one of those businesses; however, as a permanent resident of southeastern Connecticut and as a general rule I only patronize Mystic businesses during the off season when all the crowds of tourists are safely home and I can almost feel as though I have the picturesque village all to myself.
Take heed ladies and never assume there will be a relief station where you saw one in seasons past!
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