Wednesday, August 19, 2009

400 new public toilets in Paris


OK, today, something much less glamorous than yesterday! But very practical - especially if you plan to visit Paris... They (the town hall) are currently installing some 400 new public toilets in the streets of Paris (I saw them!). And not just any toilet, but the ones designed by Patrick Jouin - yes people, in Paris toilets are as art pieces ;) -FYI, the one I photographed is an old model). On a more practical note, I'm sure you'll be happy to know that they are all totally free, clean completely automatically after each visit and are open between 6 am and 10 pm. The things you learn on PDP!!

38 comments:

  1. Well, I'm sure that is vast improvement over the pissoirs of my youth. Still don't know if I could use it though!

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  2. Well, I guess if I was really desperate. Just checked out the link—Patrick Jouin is a talented guy. Hope he doesn't become known mainly for les toilettes.

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  3. We have these French-style toilettes in San Jose and San Francisco. I don't know if ours clean themselves, though. I can't bring myself to use them. I have a fear of getting trapped inside!

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  4. This is for the ladies buy anything with an ET or poodle on it -

    http://www.janieandjack.com/shop/dept_mixandmatch.jsp?productSizeSelected=0&starting_index=0&pageClicked=1&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374303717459&bmUID=1249507722482

    Très cher, but hands down the cutest Paris-inspired collection for babies I've found yet. Be sure to look at all three pages of it. I bought the first dress in the smallest size (o-3 months)...I'll put it on a plush poodle or a doll. Scrumptious.

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  5. French toilets in SF are made by JC Decaux and are most definitely NOT free!! Here is a link to their whereabouts, supposedly there are 21 of them.

    http://www.heatsignature.com/decaux.html

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  6. Thanks, Tonton! That's a pretty funny recap of how the writer got his information about the 21 toilets.

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  7. I'll be heading to Paris tomorrow! Thank you, Eric for all of the beautiful, inspriring images. I can't wait to take some of my own.

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  8. Ah, yes. That was one thing Paris could improve on. I remember going to the ladies room in a bar/cafe and seeing nothing but a hole in the tiled floor. Did manage to find one in the Galleries Lafayette and at the American Express office.
    By the way, Suzy, TonTon, the Decaux toilets are timed so that the doors automatically open after a certain period. Prevents them from becoming homeless camps.
    Thanks, Eric. I will pass this info on to my traveling friends.

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  9. I would hate to have the toilet open up on me if I took too long. I prefer the hotel toilets, myself.

    I have to rant....I just can't understand how people can go in the airplane toilets without their shoes on. I always say, if they can't aim straight on the ground, what do you expect at a bumpy 33,000 feet?

    Festoon(did i spell that right?) your GF crown, Alexa, with scented Fleur de Lys toilet paper!!!!

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  10. You know, I'm pretty happy when I'm in need of a toilet and find one too!

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  11. I never thought I'd say this about a toilet, but — How adorable!

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  12. I have yet to set foot in one. Not that I haven't tried but none of the toilets I came across worked. A tip about the MacDonald's toilets: there can be LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG lines, so don't wait til the last moment ;)

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  13. I'm with you, phx—hotel toilets are the way to go. Not that I usually find myself in rarefied neighborhoods like the place Vendome, but the ladies room at the Ritz is definitely my fave. I would like to see one of these sleek Jouin WCs though. Maybe you could check one out and post a little report from a woman's perspective? Also -- no shoes in an airplane loo? Eeeeeew, gross!

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  14. Very interesting... will file for future reference.

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  15. Alexa: thanks to your tip I checked out the ladies rooms at the Ritz. The Café de la Paix has nice facilities also.

    When I had to use one of these I wish it had this friendly smile on it. Then again it was dark so maybe I didn't see it. To paraphrase Soosha: beggars can't be choosers. Although I have been careful not to repeat the experience.

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  16. Agree with Francine, if it's really 6pm-10pm, I'd have a major problem. Certainly Eric meant 6 A.M.

    These things work quite well and nothing to worry about getting locked in. If I remember, there's an emergency button inside.

    Tomate, what I thought you were going to say is that you shouldn't throw your receipt away at McDo's. There is usually a door code printed on the receipt so that not just anybody can use the toilets there. The bad news: yes, you most likely have to buy something to use the loos at Ronald's place.

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  17. Free????? Can it be? Back in the early nineties, one had to pay for 15 minutes of use. However, I must say that the pay toilets were always nice and clean ... There have been times since back in America when I have wished for those toilets!

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  18. Very important info for a woman my age. Thanks again, Eric!

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  19. Yes, rimabirdgirl, thanks for the reminder. That's the other thing I'm afraid of, having the door open while I'm still doing my business! These things take time, on occasion.

    I nearly got locked in the restroom at the Place de la Concorde end of the Tuileries. I was very happy too see actual toilets and stalls, but freaked out when the door lock jammed up on me. It took me about 3-4 minutes to get it open.

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  20. I'd be a bit terrified of being hermetically sealed in a public loo, but equally worried about the automatic opening after a duration. Not that I'd want to linger if I was forced to use such a thing, Saints forbid, but what about malfunctions? Yikes.

    Alexa, congrats! I love Phx's festoon. Lavender scented, of course, in honour of France.

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  21. Psst, ETSuzy ~ those Eiffel Tower and Poo-dle designs are adorable!

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  22. good to know! its much needed!!
    but that fully automatic thing is worse when it breaks down! door opens automatically and its not remain clean at all :-(

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  23. Can't wait to use one of these new fangled dangled toilettes!

    So I'll just have to use the office toilet instead.

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  24. I got stuck in the toilet at Malmaison because the door wouldn't open....I kicked and screamed in English and bad French till someone heard me... AIDE MOiiiiiiii. We were on a tour, and Mr. Phx would have said something eventually...I think.

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  25. The public toilets, when they are working, are a great blessing to the paripatetic tourist. (That means walking around, not...oh, you silly people!) The last couple years they often were out of order, a real shame. When working, they are efficient, safe, and yes, they clean themselves after each use. I always thought they are very civilized, with or without the smiling face.

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  26. On a related note: Since we just celebrated 40 years since Woodstock, remember the Port-O-San guy?

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  27. Hi,
    it's a new experience to visit here. I always loved Paris...

    Greetings from Mashhad- Iran

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  28. When I'm in Paris I always use these public toilets - and they ARE clean - don't you worry about using them. I can't wait to see the new ones though.

    Eric, the next public toilet we would like to see here on PDP is the one by the Madeleine Church. It's SO beautiful, thank you !

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  29. PHX-CDG....my wife and I always comment about this!

    I am sure I would use these, but the Mrs. won't be so keen knowing the door has a computer timing thing going on....

    Of course when were in Vienna, the public toilets under the opera house have opera music piped in and are wood paneled!

    In the US, I am forced to buy something when the Mrs needs to use a fast food place's toilet....says she doesnt feel right walking in and using if we are not customers. I don't mind...who can pass up a donut?


    Sean

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  30. I used one of these while in Paris. It worked nicely. I thought it was noisy and that embarrassed me, but no one else noticed.

    Hi Sarah!

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  31. Who on earth would be able to surprise me and put such a smile on my face at anytime ? Only Eric with his posts, of course !!!!!! Not only this one!! There are numerous, with the same effect, I have to say :))
    Exactly as if I decided not to smile (yes i can be desperately crazy sometimes!) and just can't resist to LOL!
    Never see him and always be catching everything, everywhere all the times. Or maybe it is pure chance and he has no talent at all in anything, hasn't he ? ;)
    Thank you. Don't know what I would say first if I met you ?? I'd feel totally silly :)

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  32. One question....with or without seats on les toilettes? That's something we Américains need to know! BTW, these came a little too late pour moi!!!!

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  33. I can have stomach issues when traveling, so these will be very welcome on my next trip to Paris! Last time I paid quite a bit to use les toilettes in some public places like Les Halles, Gare du Nord, etc.

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  34. Yessss!!! I remember last time I was in Paris, and wanting to use the 'little girls' room... what a torture...! I ended up at a men's restroom in a floating restaurant by the Siene! This after running all over town looking for one that was opened!

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  35. thanks for the news Eric....I will arrive there on Tue for 5 days. I'm sure I'll be in need of one.
    Lana

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  36. is it possible to get a map where they are located? My daughter and I are planning a trip to Paris in the spring.

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  37. I am really surprised about the excellent job that you have made in this blog, which contains very important and amazing content about 400 new public toilets in Paris, it allows everyone to express a variety of opinions.

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