Americans aren't supposed to answer. It is a European survey, and needs information only people living in Europe can give, such as how much your water actually costs.
I drink water from an ice age aquifer, filtered through sand dunes for thousands of years. It gets bottled and sold to the gullible who pay per litre twenty times what I pay per month for my water.

I'll fight you for the iPad Annhig :).

Are there fountains in any of the parks in Paris, and if so, is it safe to drink from them, if having a picnic?

Also, what is the deal with sitting on the grass in the parks? I read somewhere that everyone sits on the grass, then somewhere else it says, "Do not sit on the grass in Luxembourg gardens.

I'm not sure what you mean by fountains but if you are talking about the decorative kind of fountains with lots of statues that spray water you don't drink from those but there are utilitarian fountains that are meant for drinking. If you're confused (you really shouldn't be) then the default rule is it's drinkable unless there is a sign saying "Eau non potable". Most parks will have one or more fountains for drinking.

If it is forbidden to sit on the grass there will be a sign that says "Pelouse Interdite", which means stay off the grass. You may not notice the sign but the general rule would be if the grass looks very well manicured and no one is sitting on it then you shouldn't either.

You're not allowed to sit or walk on the grass in the Luxembourg Gardens. I think the only exception is the children's playground. Is there something wrong with sitting on chairs?

At my age, I would prefer to sit on a park bench if available. It's just that having a picnic lunch in the park is highly recommended and I just can't imagine there being enough benches to go around. I also remember seeing pictures of lots of people having picnics on the grass, hence my confusion.

You must have seen photos of the Champs de Mars with people lying all over the grass. Or perhaps some other place where walking on the grass is ok but not in the Luxembourg Gardens. The police will chase you off the grass and everyone will look at you weirdly.

<< having a picnic lunch in the park is highly recommended >>

By whom????? How uncomfortable! Who wants grass stains on their clothes and ants in their food. You must be reading Rick Steves or getting an overdose of Manet.

<< I just can't imagine there being enough benches to go around >>

Paris is full of park benches along the streets. Paris is full of small squares with benches. Paris is full of gardens with CHAIRS!! Unless it's a warm, sunny, weekend afternoon there will be plenty of places to sit.

There are also cafes with tables and chairs.

Thank you Adrienne. Park benches it is then.

Oh I just had to come back to this thread, knowing that it would become increasingly funny.

Hi flan,

>flanneruk on Jun 9, 11 at 3:39am

Thank you for a concise and scholarly discussion of the drinking water supply in England.

May I assume that the same holds true for Scotland?

((I))
>explaining the unEnglish outbreak of mass hysteria and absurd sentiment at the death of Princess Di. Also explaining men's cosmetics and flavoured coffee.<

I have oft times lain awake at night wondering about that.

ira - you're in for a treat with the water in Scotland. It's yellow and rather alarming at first. But since it had no flavor I assumed it really was water and not some other substance!

it was nice to be in Rome recently and to be able to fill up our water bottles from public water fountains in the city. I had to laugh when some french family tutted as I was doing so and told their son never to do what I was doing as it was dangerous.

on the subject of bottled water, anyone else remember the episode of Fools and horses where they were bottling Peckham tap water and trying to sell it?

That reminds me of when Coca-Cola had the intention of selling Dasani in France and then they were exposed as just selling tap water in a bottle. As it turned out, Dasani never made it to France...

They, Coca-Cola, not only used tap water but they managed to pollute it as well.

sitting on the grass is allowed in the panhandle of the jardin du Luxembourg.

. . . but DON'T attempt to carry one of those metal chairs in the Jardin du Luxembourg across so you can sit by the lake; police whistles from all directions guaranteed! Di

I love the water fountains in Italy, they provide cold, fresh tasting water.

Di2315 how do you know this? We need details please!

Safer perhaps than the bottled water -

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013...minated-brands

Guilty as charged, cathies!

There were no signs, and I had decided that if I took the chair closer to the edge of the lake I could better enjoy the scenery. Needless to say I didn't even get a chance to sit down, before the whistles sounded, and police came running.

At first I thought some grand crime must have been in progress, then realised I was the guilty party they were all heading for. I really couldn't understand what they were saying, but their actions made the meaning clear.

Moral of the story: look to see what the locals are doing before taking action! Di

Funny story Di, i can imagine your embarrassment.

One one trip we spent time in Greece where we were able to explore the Ancient Greek ruins at our leisure. A few weeks later we were in Paris at the louvre and exploring the Egyptian section. Without thinking my husband struck a pose for a photo by resting his arm on an exhibit, the poor guards lost the plot completely. My husband was very upset, he meant absolutely no disrespect, he just wasn't thinking.

Cathies - oh dear, I can relate! At the National Art Museum of Catalonia in Barcelona there is a collection of church frescoes hung to replicate the original layout of the church. This includes some that are set back into little alcoves, what presumably would have been a little chapel or doorway or something. I was so busy looking up at the ceiling and listening to my audio guide that I didn't realise you weren't meant to go *into* the alcoves until a nasty woman appeared and really screamed at me until I burst into tears! :( Really spoiled the visit, as you can imagine!