My friend, Andrew, explained the rule that Robert DeNiro follows regarding restrooms:
“Always use the restroom whenever one is available, even if you don’t think you need to.”
It’s admittedly a rule that’s been repeated by countless travel writers because public restrooms can be scarce, but until I heard that De Niro follows the rule, the idea didn’t stick with me.
But while traveling in London, Elysha and I adopted this rule, and it was a game changer.
We spent a lot of time on walking tours. Hours and hours of walking and touring. Seven miles of walking per day. Plus time spent in theaters, black cabs, subways, and trains, and more.
Not once did I ever need to use a restroom, because every time I encountered a restroom, I used it whether I needed it or not.
Walking the streets of London for seven days and never thinking, “Damn, I need to find a restroom” was glorious.
At least half a dozen times, I found myself exiting a restroom that I didn’t really need but nonetheless used, saying, “Thank you, Robert DeNiro.”
