If you think . . .

If you think today was short on news just wait until tomorrow. Tomorrow we do laundry! We'll discuss the merits of cold vs. warm vs. hot water for washing and exactly how long one should tumble dry synthetics. The discussion will be lively! Don't get up early, but don't forget to chime in!
Before we sign out tonight we wanted to go over the toilette habits of the French. As it turns out. . . They never actually go to the toilette when they are out and about. One can go for days without finding a public toilette and when you do find one they make you pay to pee. It is tiresome at best. The toilettes themselves are works of art. No not real art, but better than most of the junk in the Pompidou Center. Most are hidden away in basements of old buildings with questionable plumbing histories and a scant nod to privacy. It is not unusual for everyone to share the same stalls, although they are like little lockable closets. Duane gets a little claustrophobic in them, but can usually make it out before the cold sweats overtake him. Everyone shares one sink (Who said everyone should have their own sink?) and the running  water. . . .Now that is a topic all it's own. . . Frequently there is no water faucet handle as we know it. One must search for the basic operating principle. #1: There is a peddle on the floor that you operate like an accelerator in a car (Varoom! Varoom!) #2: There is a wand about 18" in length sticking out from the wall that you operate with your knee (Duane prefers this one) #3: There is the auto water (dull, boring and unpredictable) #4: The push down model that starts, stops, starts stops, and then stops completely (Duane hates these).  #5 the handle. . . This works like every faucet you've ever used, but sticky. Men and women use the water closets interchangeably so when waiting outside one marked "Hommes" (Men) it is not at all unusual for a "Femme" (woman) to walk out and go to trying to figure out how to get the water to flow. What does seem universal even in the darkened basement models is some version of the Dyson 10 second hand dryer. Your hands aren't really dry in 10 seconds, but the air and heat stop. Just step back, count to 3 and reinsert your hands for another 10 second burst! It does make loud, screeching reassuring noises, however, and after awhile your hands are dry enough to return to the streets only dripping periodically. Thus endeth the lesson on toilettes. Tomorrow we discuss clothing choices, again!