We went to Arles today to see some more medieval ruins and just walk around the town- it was another gorgeous day (finally!). Arles has the ruins of an amphitheater (coliseum) from Roman times and also is famous for Vincent Van Gogh doing many of his famous paintings here. However, this is not what will stick in my mind into eternity.
The bathroom from hell will stick in my mind for all eternity.
Let me explain and give a little background information on bathrooms in France. Public bathrooms are almost non-existent. If you can find one, it is guaranteed that it will be shady, at best. Your best bet is to find a café, grab a seat and a coffee and use the facilities while you are there. This seems counterproductive to me, as the more coffee you drink, the more you need to find a bathroom. I think this is an evil shopkeeper plot that they're all in on.
But I digress.
So, after walking around Arles (it's a lovely town, they seem to be famous for their tablecloths and napkins in Provencal patterns- I saw literally thousands of them) I decided that it was indeed time for a stop in a café and a visit to the toilette of the local establishment. So we grabbed a table and I asked to be directed to the facilities. The shopkeeper graciously pointed me to the back of the shop.
I opened the door. There, facing me, was a hole in the floor. Literally, a hole in the floor. Even more horrifying were the two porcelain tiles with ridges in them shaped like feet on either side of the hole. For those of you with bad aim (or whatever) there was a flushing aide- a garden hose hooked to the sink!!! I mean COME ON PEOPLE!!!! THIS IS NOT A 3RD WORLD COUNRTY!! This is a café in France!!!!
So I made the best of it- after all I like to think I can roll with the punches. I went outside and Brian saw my face and said "what??" I said- "Go to the bathroom. Bring your camera.
Pictures are attached. For those of you with a delicate stomach, skip the pictures. For the rest of you, this is travel outside the US. Travel at your own risk. :)
First, the pretty pictures. It really is a lovely town.
Check out the ruins of the coliseum. They still have bullfights there (but they don't kill the bulls. The really good ones are as famous as the matadors).
Another good view of the town.
This pretty fresco was on one of the churches we saw.
And now, the bathroom. Seriously. Check out those foot tiles. I'm getting hives just looking at these.
A garden hose. FOR REAL.
That's funny
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