The Pissiors of Europe

Americans in Europe are often shocked by the relative publicness of eliminative activities in France and other places. I remember telling a friend about this; and she replied by referring to the night soils of bovines of the male persuasion. 

Anyway, here's an old pissior from the old days in Paris. It looks like a roadside shrine, to some degree. If one must void in public, do it in an elegant setting. So French!

Modern day sanisettes are more private yet claustrophobic:

In Amsterdam urination can be a very public affair:

And urinals can even be sort of an art form or vehicle for creativity:

Can you imagine what would happen if a U.S. city decided to erect pissoirs? There would be a groundswell of moral outrage at the very hint that humans are a urine-generating creature, much less that cities would condone this! And, of course, there would be the male-female vs. unisex argument that would come up.  Still, some of the less well-lit streets in the French Quarter can have those smelly spots, not to mention lawns around a college campus fraternity or sorority row!

At least banks, no matter how sordid they can be, are not usual places for free-lancing peeing. Unless some bankers are like boys!