It is a lovely day, and you are wandering the streets of Paris. You peek out of boutique windows and past sidewalk cafes. Then suddenly you feel it. You step, and your foot feels the funny crush. It slides a bit. You catch your breath. Merde! (Literally.) You just got into one of the least magical aspects of visiting France: doggy doo. Of course, there are wonderful things about France: people-watching in a café, glorious cathedrals, delicious food, and historical attractions galore.
France is really amazing. But with the good always comes the bad.
There are now laws in France, as elsewhere about cleaning up after your dog, but apparently, the French are far below the list. Perhaps it is a fashionable thing; after all, her Jimmy Choos are for staggering, not leaning (always dubious in heels that high) down to pavement level.
Don’t let this list of bad things discourage you from visiting. After all, it’s all just a French thing. But you also need to be prepared for the bad, the ugly, and the smelly before your visit, especially if you’ve never been to France. Here are all the gory and gruesome details about the bad side of France.
Dog droppings
They can attack anywhere. On the sidewalk; on the street. The French love their dogs, and it’s fun to watch them walk, sit in cafes, or relax in the shops. But, they have to “go” somewhere. You never know when a landmine will hit. It’s best in France to keep your peripheral vision on the ground below you if you want to avoid puppy shedding.
Toilets
Using the bathroom in France can be an adventure, a challenge, or even an emotional scar. Although they are not as bad as the horror stories you may have heard, they still have problems. For one thing, unless you’re sitting in a coffee shop, it will probably cost you some change. On the other hand, they are not always clean and can be downright scary at times.
There are also the famous public bath capsules. The concept is good – you can usually find one of these all over the place. You have to have a precise change; They generally cost between € 1 and € 1.50. They are actually cleaner than they appear, due to a massive wash after each use. It’s kind of unpleasant to have the door closed when you walk in. And, of course, not all of them work.
Graffiti
If you judge a French town by the view from the train, you will probably have a pretty low opinion. This is because these areas appear to be a major tagging target, and buildings are often covered in graffiti. It’s a shame, really, when you see graffiti on a historic building or spoil the landscape. This is a bad side that many new visitors are surprised by. Graffiti is quite prolific in France.
That smell
Watch out for the smell of body odor. It may almost be enough to make your eyes fill with tears. Fortunately, this situation seems to have improved over the years. After all, the French have one of the best soaps in the world; everyone loves a good bar of that famous Marseille soap made with olive oil.
The other scent that is common is urine. It may be the difficulty and expense of using the toilets, but you can pick up a urine smell in many public places. It seems to be worse in certain places (railway station corridors, alleys, stairs, etc.).
Driving, parking and scooters
The French have a bit of a rebellious mentality when it comes to driving. They often violate traffic laws, and usually flagrantly. You don’t even have to drive in France for this to be a problem. Be on the lookout for rogue cars crossing the streets as well.
The most annoying aspect is the scooter in France, whose drivers often take advantage of their ability to go anywhere. You may have to dodge them on the sidewalks, they often go the wrong way down the streets, and on top of all that, they are loud. And they are everywhere. And they park where they want.
Speaking of which, the French will park anywhere they find a hole that they can (or can) fit in, even if that means the sidewalk, double parking, blocking traffic, blocking handicap ramps on sidewalks, hitting car bumpers. some cars to park, and so on.
Of smoking
Everyone knows that the French love their cigarettes. This means that it will be difficult to avoid smoking while visiting France. This is another situation that has dramatically improved in a very short period of time.
It used to be that there was no non-smoking zone in France. Now, almost all public places are smoke-free: airports, railway stations, trains, shopping malls, restaurants, and coffee shops.
Unpredictable hours
It can be a bit difficult to get into the rhythm of French hours, where shops often close for long lunches, and restaurants usually close between meals.
This may not be the most flattering description of France, but the pros far outweigh these cons. This article is designed to prepare you for what to expect. But, like the French, just keep going. You cannot enjoy the joie de vivre if you obsess over the negative.
