Little Known Facts

Merde du Chien

You have to watch your feet in some French towns. Such has been my experience in beautiful Cauterets, where every 50 meters there seems to be a pile of dog poop on the sidewalk, nearest to the buildings (usually enough out of the way of pedestrians to be avoided - usually). And there must be some different dog chow here because some of that feces is down right brick red! I had to warn Mandy about several piles as we promenaded and she gawked at the houses along the rue. Moi? I kept my head down, and avoided all these canine landmines. But still I was ready with the ironic and a propos exclamation, Merde!, should I have stepped into that red deposit.

Toilets

I'll bet that France has the most diversity of toilet styles in the world. You´ve got your "normal" toilet that an American is used to; the pseudo-American toilet without liftable seat; the train toilet which cannot take toilet paper; the quasi-American toilet with garbage-disposal-like drain which also cannot take toilet paper; any number of toilet styles with a flush button split in two parts, a smaller 1/3 part for quick flushes and, indeed logically, a larger 2/3 button for larger flushes; the pit toilet (which I know is out there but have not seen yet); and probably more that I haven´t encountered. It´s a strange feeling to not know how to use a toilet and to try to figure it out. "Do I poop in this one or don´t I?" You almost feel childlike, as though you're starting over learning the most basic things. Let me tell you, that is an adventure itself. And don´t get me started on the mystery of bidets...