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The truth of the "smell" behind the romance of Paris: the mystery of the smell of urine
French beauty
When you arrive in Paris with hopes and aspirations, and with the dream of pursuing a romantic capital, you will be greeted not by perfumes, beautiful women, or the towering Louvre. Is it the smell of urine on the face? What would you think? Will it be disillusioned instantly!
Today, I will talk about a topic that is not very "fragrant" - the lingering smell of urine on the streets of Paris. It's a very different kind of romantic city than you might think!
A disparity in hygiene through time and space
In the ancient Tang and Song dynasties, there was already a drainage system in the city, and the street management was quite advanced, and you were punished for throwing garbage everywhere.
In the Middle Ages, people were covering their mouths when they were stinking
On the other hand, Europe at that time was in the Middle Ages, let alone the drainage system, and they couldn't even find a decent toilet. During the day, there is a defecation on the street, and at night the urine bucket is accumulated, and as soon as the window is opened the next day, the "golden rain" comes, and the smell can be imagined. It wasn't until the Industrial Revolution that Europe slowly said goodbye to the smell of feces and urine in the air.
Paris, where romance meets reality
It stands to reason that Paris should be a modern city today, so how can it still smell like this? The reason is actually very simple, there are more people and fewer public toilets! Add to that the large number of homeless and African immigrants, and convenience everywhere becomes the norm. Think about it! There are more than 30,000 homeless people on the streets of Paris, all day long, can this taste not be "deeply rooted in the hearts of the people"!
Before these homeless people, Paris was known for its unique French flair, a symbol of art, fashion and romance. At that time, the social structure of Paris was relatively homogeneous, and the cityscape and lifestyle were deeply rooted in the culture and traditions of the native France. The streets are lined with cafes, residents leisurely enjoy the afternoon sun, and the pace of life follows an established pace of elegance.
Flow of immigrants on the streets of Paris
With the arrival of migratory flows, especially in the last few decades, there has been a massive influx of migrants from North Africa and beyond. Paris wants to say: I can't go back! Everything has changed!
The problem of public toilets: small quantities and high prices
To say that there are no public toilets in Paris, but there are pitiful few, there are about 400 in Paris, compared with our Hangzhou, it is simply a drop in the bucket (Hangzhou has 1760 public toilets).
And you have to pay for the toilet, ranging from 0.3 to 2 euros, which is a huge amount of money for a homeless person! He has this money, is he still wandering? So the streets and alleys have become their "temporary toilets".
Government Response: Fines, Technology, Flower Beds?
Someone will surely ask, the smell of urine bubbles on the streets of France is so serious! Does the French government care?
The French government is not sitting idly by, and they have come up with a few clever tricks:
1. Fines sound scary but difficult to enforce;
2. Paint the wall with special materials, and the urine will rebound, which is quite damaging, but it is also a helpless move;
3. There is also the transformation of flower beds, which is convenient for men to solve internal emergencies and can also be used as flower fertilizer, but this taste is still there.
What do you mean? A standing urinal comes up
What about the ladies? Hold your horses! The French brainstormed and invented the standing urinal, which allowed women to "solve problems" while standing. This thing is really laughable.
Paris, romance is still there, but please be more tolerant
Having said all this, the problem of urine smell in Paris seems to be unsolvable, but in fact it reveals the complexity of urban management and the lack of humanistic care.
Paris, a city of glamour and shadow, reminds us that romance and reality always go hand in hand. The next time we walk along the banks of the Seine, we may be able to be more understanding and tolerant, after all, every city has its two sides.
Epilogue:
The smell of urine on the streets of Paris is actually the result of the collision of various factors and problems left over from history. The gap between imagination and reality, sometimes like this taste, takes time to adapt and change.
Paris is still the place to be, but its "scents" are more diverse and worthy of our in-depth exploration. Remember, every city has its own story, the story of Paris, not just perfume and bread, but also a hint of less romantic, and this is part of who she is.
Okay, friends, let's talk so much about today's topic, if you have anything to say, please comment in the comment area, thank you for watching and liking and supporting. I'm Wenxin, we'll see you next time.