Paris Idiosyncronsies Part One

I must start out by saying anyone that is going to Paris should read David Lebovitz’s book “The Sweet Life in Paris”. Not just because we were lucky enough to meet David while in Paris, but because it really did help me to prepare for many French idiosyncrasies. Instead of being annoyed, I would, at least initially, smile and think “Oh yes, David warned us about this.


First, we'll study Les Toilettes.

A few things you should know when searching for a bathroom.

You cannot just use bathrooms in restaurants without purchasing something. You will at least need to have a coffee and then you may still need to pay.  Yes, pay!  We paid .50 euro cents at the mall and .20 euro cents at a cafe.  Have coins in your pockets.

Also, be prepared, in most places men and women use the same bathroom.  In the picture above you can see the Monsieurs and the Dames doors and the urinal was open opposite these doors with one sink in the open / urinal area.

They have Les toilettes on the street.  There aren't nearly enough and they never seem to be around when we need them, but they are interesting.  At first we avoided them, thinking they must be filthy, right?  I mean we have to watch where we walk because they don't pick up their dog poop and men seem to think it's also ok to pee with the dogs on the sidewalk...I just step over anything wet, so you'll excuse me for not having high hopes for the sidewalk toilettes.
 
 

 
 
But, finally we needed one bad enough and there wasn't a line so, we thought we'd try it and Kim pushed the button.  Here is Kim walking into the Toilette.
 

 
The key to the sidewalk toilettes is reading the directions. 
1. When the light is green you can push the button.  The door will open and when you enter the door closes behind you.
2. The light is yellow when it is occupied.
3. When done wash your hands and exit.  You can't flush it.
4. When you exit, the door closes and the whole thing goes through a wash cycle that flushes and sanitizes the whole bathroom.   A little scary- what do people do that they have to sanitize the whole toilet, floors, etc.? 
5. When it's done sanitizing, the light turns green and the next person can enter. 
 

 
You can imagine how long a line can get when the whole toilet has to sanitize after each person!  Well there's a little Paris bathroom lesson.