Spend a Penny

Do you know that saying? These days though, it's 1 euro or 1 Turkish Lira or 1 Swiss Franc... I don't really object to paying for these facilities. I do object when there aren't enough of them.

A classic example is France; I am trying to come up with the reason for the lack of public facilities. Not even the Metro has any! Large shopping malls such as Les Qautres Temps or Printemps has one on each level (unless I missed them). Here are my offerings/excuses for the lack thereof:

1. ancient/archaic septic/sewerage systems
2. ancient/archaic buildings
3. crime is a problem in confined or poorly 'policed' spaces
4. the French have learned to hold it. Indefinitely.

Conversely I found them every 500m or so (even more I think) in Istanbul. And the ladies/gents who maintain them actually do more than just wave you through or count you or make sure you haven't skipped the queue - they actually keep the stalls in clean condition.

I waited in a queue for 20 minutes and filed all of my nails while waiting for the public loo outside Notre Dame yesterday. I had 50 euro cents ready for the attendant (even though it was a free public facility) as I can't say I'd swap jobs with her.

But I made the fatal mistake of crossing over the stop line by one foot and received a bit of a rant from her - what? So? I didn't get it at all, couldn't make out why there was a problem, but did stand behind the line again until my turn to go through THE TURNSTILE!!! Wow. What a production.

I decided to put my 50 euro cents back into my purse ready for a future opportunity to show my gratitude or to help out one of the talented musos who entertain us on the trains or in the streets. Aren't I mean!

Desole la France - je t'amie xxxxxxx