The toilets in Paris are very proper. There is a catch though, they cost 30 to 50 cents to use. You will not find a free toilet in all of Paris, and even those that you pay for are as rare as hen's teeth.

At the Parc du Boulogue this single house of toilets served a park that was over one square mile in size. There were thousands of people the day we went. The same situation exists at the city’s other major park, le Jardin du Luxembourg.

On major streets you might find one of these units. You insert 2 Francs (35 cents) to gain entrance. When your business is complete you insert your hands into a bay with photosensors. A soap then sprays on your hands followed by rinse water and finally an air blower comes on. When you step out of the toilet, the door is locked and the whole interior is sprayed down with water and antiseptic.

Another interesting feature is the complete lack of drinking fountains. If you repeatedly quiz befuddled Parisians, you may be able to find a spigot like this one in the major parks.

The custom in Paris is to buy bottled water for $.50 to $2.00 a small bottle and to relieve yourself at a cafe where you happen to stop by for a demi-tasse.