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What does it take to find a public toilet in Paris? Plenty of patience

  • The city says there are 435 self-cleaning toilets installed across the French capital, but many people are convinced that’s still not enough
  • ‘It’s really complicated, especially for girls, because there’s always a line,’ says a Parisian

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An aerial view of the River Seine in Paris. Photo: AFP
Agence France-Presse
With cafes, bars and museums closed to combat the coronavirus outbreak, Parisians are learning what tourists have long known – finding a public toilet in the French capital requires some sleuthing and plenty of patience.

Long lines outside the few facilities available have become a common sight as spring weather draws more people outdoors, in particular at parks or along the banks of the Seine.

“It’s really complicated, especially for girls, because there’s always a line and there aren’t that many toilets,” said Charlotte Le Merdy, a publishing assistant, waiting with around a dozen others for a break near Notre-Dame cathedral.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo. Photo: EPA-EFE
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo. Photo: EPA-EFE

Men are more often tempted to duck behind a tree or find a relatively remote wall, which hasn’t helped the city’s complicated relationship with cleanliness.

Mayor Anne Hidalgo is already facing a torrent of complaints about trash and neglect on social media, where hundreds of unflattering photos have been posted with the hashtag “#saccageParis” (trashing of Paris) in recent weeks.

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