Here is a link to a statistical table:

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wasserpreis

It shows that private water consumption per capita is 295 liters in USA and 151 liters in France.

40% of private water consumption in USA is for watering lawns.

It's simply not true that they don't exist in the U.S. For sure in southern California and in Hawaii they are available, just as you describe.

I live in Florida and go to the beach all the time and there are showers at every single one of them.

Also, I was in Hawaii in December and I noticed them at the beaches there as well.

In Illinois our lake did not have one but the pool at the lake had one.

so... my only conclusion bkluvsNola is that you apparently have not frequented many US beaches of late. Because believe me, we too have showers at beaches. I think it's a salt water thing.

Now that I'm thinking on this topic... I can't think of a single public ocean beach in the U.S. that I've been to that (if that had any facilities at all i.e. restrooms) doesn't also provide a fresh water outdoor shower as well.

We're not "ruining" the planet. We're merely using it up!

<b>Use it once, throw it away. Now <u>that</u>'s convenience!</b>

Robespierre, now is that a nice attitude...?

I take it you don't have kids....

So I guess you will be long gone before the planet is so what the heck....

I guess it's an &quot;Enjoy it while you can attitude&quot;

Well, I don't have any kids. I will not purposely go about &quot;RUINING&quot; the planet but I am going to enjoy it !!!

Errr... wasn't he being ironic?

Just to add to the list of public beaches that DO have showers - Virginia Beach. And a good thing too, or all tht sand in my daughter's hair would have had to be washed down the drain at the hotel.

I could be wrong, but I don't think Robespierre is being serious.

For those who are not familiar with Florida or all of America for that matter,
you have to understand that the Panhandle of Florida, similarly to Texas, are - shall we say, &quot;different&quot; from the rest of the country - and they may not believe in taking many showers, at the beach or not.

:)

Of course I did not think he (Robespierre)was serious or at least I hoped he wasn't.

But then again neither was I....

Sometimes people can tend to be a little critical of one's remarks on these boards so one must be careful in their phrasing...guess I didn't do it well...sorry

I find Robespierre quite amusing, I know he is always good for a chuckle. Check out my other responses to his remarks in the past and you will see what I mean...

There are a few others I enjoy as well and am always looking for their posts to lighten my day.

Wow, I guess I pushed some people's buttons and riled them all up, huh?

Yes, I have seen showers in the US, but they were always located next to the pool and for guests of the hotel *only* to wash after going in the ocean. I have not seen the showers the way they are in France, around 5 feet from the water and available every 20 feet from each other.

Mahya2,

You write &quot;For those who are not familiar with Florida or all of America for that matter,
you have to understand that the Panhandle of Florida, similarly to Texas, are - shall we say, &quot;different&quot; from the rest of the country - and they may not believe in taking many showers, at the beach or not.&quot;

Um, I wouldn't be talking about Americans not taking showers. It's the Europeans who responded that they substitute a shower at the beach, which implies no shampoo or soap is used, for a real shower at the hotel, where shampoo and soap is used and you really get clean.

Judging from the BO of many of the people on the Riviera, it was they that needed a shower and not I.

Ask the average European how often they take a shower (not counting beach showers) and I doubt you'll get a response of &quot;every day&quot;. Ask almost any American and they almost all shower each and every single day, with shampoo and soap.

Also, even if you shower at the beach showers, your feet get sand on them the minute you put them back down as you are right on the sand. The outdoor hotel showers that are common in America are to prevent getting salt and sand in the pool and are only for paying guests only (as is the pool).

Areala,

&quot;my only conclusion bkluvsNola is that you apparently have not frequented many US beaches of late. Because believe me, we too have showers at beaches. I think it's a salt water thing.&quot;

Um, that is incorrect. I've visited California beaches (saw them there, but they were not on the beach but near the road and solely used at the end of the day, not after every time you go out of the water). I've visited Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, Maryland, Delaware, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts beaches and I never recall seeing showers at any of them, except for the pool resorts which were unavailable to people not staying there.

I've been to the Caribbean (Aruba, Jamaica, St. Lucia), and I don't remember seeing showers there either. I've been to Spain and France beaches as well. I don't remember the showers in Spain, but they were common in France.

I did indulge and use the showers (as they say, when in Rome) but I found them unnecessary.

I do know that Americans waste far more water than Europeans, and Europeans always claim how much &quot;greener&quot; they are. That's why I was surprised by this style of waste in France.

If this offends anyone, then it must be due to the fact that they have just realized that it truly is a wasteful practice.

Here in Austin, our only beach (Hippie Hollow) does not have any showers...

Muck,

&quot;By the way, where do you think the rain comes from?&quot;

I think it all blows in on your hot air.

&gt;Ask the average European how often they take a shower (not counting beach showers) and I doubt you'll get a response of &quot;every day&quot;.

And you have surely concluded a poll to make this statement.

&quot;I've visited Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, Maryland, Delaware, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts beaches and I never recall seeing showers at any of them, except for the pool resorts which were unavailable to people not staying there.&quot;

I live in Delaware and our public beaches all have free shower facilities.

Hilton Head has those exact same showers. The beaches I've visited in Delaware and MD have them as well.

I think they are a great public service. Who wants all that sand in your car.

&quot;I have not seen the showers the way they are in France, around 5 feet from the water and available every 20 feet from each other.&quot;

Then just think how lucky you were. You were able to count the number of times people showered and let us share this invaluable piece of information.
As to your comment on European body odors, I find it especially offensive and arrogant.

Pvoyageuse,

And I found the comments about Texans to be equally offensive.

&quot;Ask the average European how often they take a shower (not counting beach showers) and I doubt you'll get a response of &quot;every day&quot;. Ask almost any American and they almost all shower each and every single day, with shampoo and soap&quot;

What an incredibly rude remark. And a stupid one too. You object to people showering at the beach, yet berate us for taking not enough showers?


By the way, I believe that comment about the shower habits in Florida and Texas came from an American.

&quot;And I found the comments about Texans to be equally offensive&quot;.

It was meant as a joke in case you missed the smiley the OP put at the end of his/her sentence, whereas your comment was not.

I beg to differ with you bkluvsNola,
I live in Tarpon Springs, FL and frequent the beaches often. Clearwater, Madiera Beach, Bradenton Beach, St. Pete Beach to name a few all have showers.

I agree they are not 5 feet from the waters edge. They are at the end of the sand where the Facilities are and they are indeed outdoors and they are free.

I will now make it an effort bkluvsNola to take some pictures of these so called &quot;non-existent&quot; showers and post a link here for you to go look at and be shocked and amazed....duh

Here's a picture of the showers at Jones Beach in New York

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1002/...13fe70.jpg?v=0

Showers at the Jersey shore

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/61/19...b70369.jpg?v=0

Showers Santa Monica beach, California

http://www.uscthaiclub.com/usc/strat...ca%20beach.jpg

Is it too late to point out that Austin is landlocked?

RE: &quot; There were no showers along the Panhandle of Florida&quot;

That is an incorrect statement. There are public showers on the main beach on Pensacola Beach. I've used them.

zeppole,

I admitted that there were showers along various US beaches, but they are for a totally different purpose.

The ones you showed are for showering at the end of your day. The ones in France were for showering after each swim.

The only reason I can think of having these showers is perhaps the Mediterranean is saltier than other seas and the salt is perhaps more uncomfortable to have on for even a few minutes for sunbathing?

I guess I don't really have a problem with having one shower at the entrance/exit of the beach to wash off sand. I just object to having showers so close to the sea and having people go every 5 minutes.

I can see that I'm in the minority here and there's no sense in me arguing.

I asked a simple question, and instead of people answering the question (why), they resorted to personal attacks.

My question was why do they have so many showers and why do people use them so often. Since I didn't receive any answers as to why, I'll go with my original supposition that it has to do with the salinity of the Mediterranean versus other water bodies.

Case closed.

One of the pictures showed children simply playing in the showers.

You still don't know why there are so many showers there. Why do you need a theory?

And it isn't true you just asked a quesion. You made all kinds of disapproving noises. But no one may make disapproving noises back.

Now you want to announce that you'll have the last word, take your ball home, etc.

You jump from one conclusion to another conclusion to another conclsion -- about France, about the non-existence of showers in the US, about other posters -- and each time you are forced to revise your conclusion, you don't quite get that the problem is that you come to conclusions prematurely.

Like with your last post. Case isn't closed -- except in your closed mind.

This is why there are so showers at the Mediterranean beaches. Have a look.

http://www.pyreneesmediterraneanholi...h%20shower.jpg

Every person knows a dog's coat needs clean after swimming in the salty sea.

Blackduff

&quot;I guess I don't really have a problem with having one shower at the entrance/exit of the beach to wash off sand. I just object to having showers so close to the sea and having people go every 5 minutes&quot;

You object?? You're in a foreign country objecting their customs? #-O

&gt;&gt;&gt;I admitted that there were showers along various US beaches, but they are for a totally different purpose.

The ones you showed are for showering at the end of your day. The ones in France were for showering after each swim.&lt;&lt;&lt;

I have never read something more ridiculous.

Showers are for showering. Period. It's up to the people how often they use them.

The people in the USA use twice as much much per capita than the people in France and you are accusing the French of wasting water!

bkluvsNola's thread is a textbook example of a prejudiced person.

A prejudiced person generalizes single cases (the one person who showered after each swim - as if ALL French people were doing that). When confronted with the truth (e.g. showers on American beaches, statistical figures) the prejudice is screened against reality (&quot;The ones you showed are for showering at the end of your day. The ones in France were for showering after each swim&quot;).

(Source: Thomas F. Pettigrew: Prejudice. Harvard University Press)

Everbody is &quot;prejudiced&quot; about something....accept it.

&lt;&lt;I saw people taking showers *every* time they got out of the water.&gt;&gt;

No kidding. That's to wash the salt water off your skin before continuing to sit in the sun on the beach! That's what the showers are THERE FOR!!!

I now nominate this for the most ridiculous complaint post this week on the forum.

Wow, I'll try to be more careful wording my questions in the future.

It's like walking on egg shells with some of you.

I guess I won't dare post my other observations as it may be too much for some of you to bear.

I thought this was a forum where we could engage in a wide variety of ideas and points of view, but it looks like if my point of view doesn't agree with yours, you don't want to talk to me.

It wasn't your point-of-view that was the problem. It was the way you worded it and the fact that your statements were patently untrue re: showers at US beaches.

If you have a valid observation that doesn't REEK of ethnocentrism, then I'm sure it would be welcome.

zeppole,

You write:

&quot;One of the pictures showed children simply playing in the showers.

You still don't know why there are so many showers there. Why do you need a theory?

And it isn't true you just asked a quesion. You made all kinds of disapproving noises. But no one may make disapproving noises back.

Now you want to announce that you'll have the last word, take your ball home, etc.

You jump from one conclusion to another conclusion to another conclsion -- about France, about the non-existence of showers in the US, about other posters -- and each time you are forced to revise your conclusion, you don't quite get that the problem is that you come to conclusions prematurely.

Like with your last post. Case isn't closed -- except in your closed mind.&quot;

You just contradicted yourself. A close-minded person is one who never changes his mind, even in the light of new evidence to the contrary. However, even you state that I revised my conclusions when I had new evidence. I've been to many of the beaches that have been mentioned in the US that actually have showers, and for some reason I didn't actually either realize it or pay attention to it.

There's an old saying in baseball that asks the umpires how they decided if a pitch is a strike. One response is &quot;I call it like it is&quot;. Another is &quot;I call it like I see it&quot; and another is &quot;It isn't anything until I call it.&quot;

I'm of the view &quot;I call it like I see it&quot;. I know I'm biased, just as everyone else in the world is. I presented my viewpoints on a certain matter and asked some questions. The fact that I asked questions indicates that I wanted further information. If I was close minded there would have been no need to ask questions, because I would have been convinced of the answer.

Maybe I didn't remember all the details I should have, and people reminded me of them. I readjusted my viewpoints in light of the new evidence.

No, I'm not prejudiced in the least. A prejudiced person holds onto prejudices even in light of new evidence to the contrary. As for me, when presented with evidence, I didn't deny that evidence, but I did attempt to fit that evidence within my original schema.

The fact that a couple of kids were playing under a shower in the US doesn't change my view that the &quot;showering&quot; culture along beaches in the US and France is different. Perhaps that is all I should have said, but then people would want further details.

As for why I need a theory, well, if someone had just replied to me and said &quot;Well, showering after swimming is an important part of French culture&quot; then we could have stopped at that and I would have been satisfied. Or &quot;the Mediterranean has higher sality (due to being an enclosed sea) and the salt is extremely uncomfortable once dried.&quot;

Also, there were other posts that you didn't find offending, but they could have been construed as being offensive. What about the one poster that said he/she didn't understand why they didn't shower in Dom Perignon? Why weren't you offended by that?

I think my posting has made people realize that they themselves have been wasting a bit of water when they visit the beach and they had to defend their behavior. Yes I know I don't have proof, just a hunch. When you're hand is caught in the cookie jar, it's hard to fess up and easier to go on the offensive.

&lt;&lt;I think my posting has made people realize that they themselves have been wasting a bit of water when they visit the beach and they had to defend their behavior.&gt;&gt;

That is absolutely hysterical!!! You really don't see how crazy you are sounding?

The showers are at the beaches for people to rinse the salt water off... that is the PURPOSE of them, whether in France, in Florida, in Mexico, in Hawaii. Same situation, same reason, same solution.

suze,
You are so right.
Simply put but very true. Showers at the beaches are for rinsing sand, salt or even sweat off while enjoying the outdoors.

I guess we may have all hit a nerve here with bkluvsNols is because maybe taking a shower for him is ridiculus because maybe he doesn't shower....period...so any use of water would be a waste for him !!! Ya Think...

I smell somthing amiss here....

This thread has to be a candidate for the funniest/silliest thread list that came up some time ago. What is everybody going on about?

stfc,

&quot;This thread has to be a candidate for the funniest/silliest thread list that came up some time ago. What is everybody going on about?&quot;

I'm glad you found humor in my original posting.

I meant my original posting to be a whimsical posting about &quot;cultural differences&quot; but I guess I should have put some smileys in it to indicate that. It degenerated after that with everyone getting so worked up about this.

Once it got personal and people started attacking me personally instead of debating the issue, then obviously I had no choice but to defend myself.

The things people are sensitive about, huh ;)

Ah, nice come-back... when you're in a hole, it's best to stop digging
:-)