France, the land of outlets that take only one plug. . . .
Leaving my café terraces and boardwalks behind in France has always been difficult, but at least I know I will return to the land of plug outlets. For some reason, French plug outlets only hold one plug. Anecdotal evidence from France suggests that electricians charge per outlet, which makes the homeowner balk at numerous plug outlets in each room. As a result, each wall outlet can handle only one plug, which necessitates using a series of interconnected outlet strips that snake across the floor. Although we may cover these cords with rugs, these cords eventually snare the unsuspecting visitor or the inattentive resident.
Years ago, when we traveled abroad, we had to carry large, ungainly transformers as well as plug converters to use our US electronic devices that ran off of 110 volts. These days, everything is compatible and at most requires a plug converter. But compatibility does not preclude the problem of outlets. Although wireless networks address this problem to a limited extent, cell phones, laptops, cordless phones, camera battery packs still need to recharge. These plugs requirements add to the existing demands of the coffee pot, the land line, the TV, the iron (well, sometimes) and hair dryer. In France where companies like Orange, Alice and Bouygues offer great rates (such as unlimited calls to the US for free), our main problems has been keeping the phones recharged.
The two-outlet wall plates in the States have reduced this plug problem on the home front to some extent. But I still crawl and scramble under desks or chairs, or squeeze behind bookcases to connect electronic appliances. And my coffee pot. . . . Well, that’s another problem. Although sufficient outlets exist (on that multiple-plug strip), the cord is just a little too short.
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