When I was first in Paris, in the early eighties, these wonderful pissoirs still existed. Some were real design wonders in Art Nouvais style cast iron, and some were quite simple. The ones I used only had an outer shell which held a trough that men would urinate into. The outer covering started at knee height, so people walking by would see the shins and shoes of men relieving themselves.The British and Australians of course were much more reserved than the French. When a student at Melbourne University I used to pass a wonderful green cast iron pissoir in Lonsdale Street. It was off course full-length to hide what was happening inside.
Now of course, things have changed. I am not sure if we now want to hide anything to do with bodily functions, or whether governments no longer think it their responsibility to cater for them. The pissoirs have gone, and not been replaced.
So now, in large cities, when one is in need of a natural break, it is quite an ordeal to find an appropriate place. The old versions of Lonely Planet would suggest that one just nick into nearby bar to use the toilet. But the bar owners are sick of this freeloading, so now many of them have an electronic lock that is operated from the counter. So you have to buy a coffee, and ask for the door to be unlocked. The trouble is that coffee is a diuretic, so you soon have to find another bar...
The old versions of Lonely Palnet would also suggest that one nick into McDonalds. But McDonalds are wise to this, so toilet doors now have a code lock. The daily code is at the bottom of the receipt for the Big Mac or coffee you have just had to buy.
There are pay toilets in all the large public parks and museums.
Off course some people can't, and some won't pay to go to the toilet. The unfortunate consequence of this is that when one gets off the fancy boulevards and streets, and into the back alleys and shaded corners, there is the horrible reek of urine. A romantic stroll along the quais on the banks of the Seine, and under the wonderful bridges is beset by the unmistakable stench of urine.
Bring back les pissoirs de Paris !!
Chris
