(ira's comment was cool!)

Maybe my taste buds aren't delicate enough, but all European water tastes fine to me. The problem with using bottled water when tap water is safe is not only the cost, which is a personal matter, but more that the bottles contribute to the massive trash problem we've been creating, which is not only a personal matter.

daveesl - I understood Ira's joke and laughed... perhaps you didn't hear me! :)

<< bottles contribute to the massive trash problem >>

Does France recycle plastics, et. al.? I can't remember if I noticed any recycle bins.

We have 3 different bins for garbage collection in France -- one for glass, one for paper+plastic+metal, and one for 'other'. Any bin that you see with a yellow cover in Paris is where you put plastic bottles or soda cans.

You will also find recycle bins in Spain too.

People may remember when the Coca Cola company tried to bottle London tap-water and sell it.

Those threads are always funny :D. To all those that don't drink tap water. Do you use bottled water for making coffee? I've never seen anybody doing this anywhere in Europe. And I do drink a lot of coffee. So I'd guess the vast majority drinks tap water. Some people must prefer their tap water bottled, since those 1.5 liter bottles for 19ct do exist.