Il y a longtemps que notre pays est beau mais rude.
--Newspaper editor Olivier Séguret, 25 January 2012
The USA are entirely the creation of the accursed race, the French.
--Evelyn Waugh (1903-1966), writing to Nancy Mitford, 22 May 1957
The mayor of Calais is suing Marine Le Pen of the Front National for saying "repeatedly" that citizens in Calais need a pass issued by the mayor to get to their own homes (because of the number of migrants in the town). In fact, the passes are issued by the police prefecture.
"À nous de vous faire préférer le train!"
"Voyager autrement"
"Avec le SNCF, tout est possible"
--Former ad slogans of the SNCF (French national trains), each in turn quickly dropped
(literally: marmoset)
Etymology: onomatopoeia from the sound a marmoset makes. Actual meaning: this is what you say in France when you want people to smile for the camera.
Selon une étude réalisée par le fabricant d’appareils photo Nikon, le « ouistiti » utilisé en France au moment de se faire prendre en photo est le petit mot le plus efficace pour s’assurer un joli sourire.
Private sector
First strike in 43 years at an aeronautics company in Toulouse, Latécoère
Public sector
The SNCF (toujours eux), regional train employees in the Lyons area guaranteeing unpleasant travel from the 17th-21st December
Also yet another strike by Sud-Rail, a particularly truculent SNCF union in the south of France, this time five days in January: 6,7, 21, 22 and 23. "We have no choice." Right.
Marseilles trams on strike until February
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The French call these "toilettes à la turque" but I call them "French toilets." They are still horribly common in France, and I never saw anything of the kind while traveling in Turkey.
It is rare to see a woman go into one of these toilet stalls and not come out again like a shot. M'entends-tu, Autoroute du Soleil?
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In Paris, the purest virtue is the object of the filthiest slander.
–Honoré Balzac (1799-1850), in Scènes de la vie privée
À Paris, la vertu la plus pure est l'objet des plus sales calomnies.
Annual Geminids meteor shower (shooting stars!) coming this weekend, if it's not too cloudy out at night.
Keith Eckstein also has a new book review site, Books About France
I remember the first one I encountered which was at the school I was attending. I walked in and immediately walked back out and had to ask my Canadian friend how you use it. I didn't believe her at first. After a couple of months, I developed strong quads and soon was able to balance with a purse and coat even after a couple of glasses of wine. Quite an accomplishment.
Posted by: Jennifer | 14 October 2011 at 03:52
Oh I know!! I hate driving on the Autoroute du Soleil for that reason. And you probably know this already, but they usually do have a few stalls with actual toilets....but with no toilet seats, so for me that still counts as a bathroom FAIL! :)
Posted by: k_sam | 14 October 2011 at 09:39
I've seen these in France...and Nepal!
Posted by: chrissoup | 15 October 2011 at 03:18
There are certain things that just make a nasty impression on foreign visitors to your country. In the U.S. it's maybe those Welcome-to-America-now-pay-$4 baggage trolleys at airports... in France, it's these!
Posted by: Sedulia | 20 October 2011 at 12:27
I have seen a toilet similar to this in Korea. Users need to squat while using it.
Posted by: plumbing | 13 November 2011 at 05:01
Are you familiar with the Reverse Cowgirl episode of South Park? Episodes are free on the southparkstudios.com website.
Posted by: Cleo | 31 March 2012 at 21:33
Oh man I almost fell out of my chair with laughter. I remember the first time I visited Kenya and encountered one of these. I remember staring at it perplexed until my roommate entered the public restroom, laughed at me and pointed to another toilet that was more to my liking. I was so relieved that I didn't have to squat. That said I read something recently that said the position you assume while using this type of facility is actually easier on your colon and has numerous health benefits. Go figure.
Posted by: Nage Papillon | 01 August 2013 at 23:16
Well it may be good for your digestive system but it sure isn't good for your shoes, purse, coat and whatever else you happen to be wearing or carrying. Watch out for that cell phone in your pocket, guys!
Posted by: Sedulia | 05 August 2013 at 14:14