Basic Services

A laundromat (launderette in the UK), internet and fax, a sidewalk to take a smoke, a speed bump--and overhead a scribbled sign calling it all into question: "Est-ce que ce monde est sérieux?"  -- "Is this world serious?"  All this on a modest street in the Marais (Paris 3rd), a district which is mostly highly fashionable.

A bit earlier, a nearby street was being hosed down (extra photo); here's a 4-year-old blip from our apartment, which gives a much better view of that entire process. I've seen it even on rainy days :)