This is the Ladies/Women's loo at the Monte Carlo Bay Resort Hotel. In the smaller photograph someone has crossed out Femmes and written Dames. A dame being a lady, and a femme being a woman. What is even more surprising is that no one in the hotel has cleaned it up.
So which should it be?
Hi Jilly - thanks for the insight into such forbidden territory for us men! So - only the French patrons are keeping up appearances - just plain old English "women". I seem to recall Italian loos being labeled as "Signore" - what is the distinction with "Donne" - which is "Ladies?"
ReplyDeleteForgot to mention that I loved the mural! Ingres' "Bather", but not a reproduction as would be so easy to do these days - a hand painted copy I guess? Quite spectacular
ReplyDeleteRichard, Signora is Lady and Donna is Woman according to my dictionary.
ReplyDeleteAt least the hotel is consistent in its use of the word.
There's a pub here that has put 'Kings' and 'Queens' on the loo doors, so there's no worry about status.
ReplyDeleteLove that mural!
ReplyDeleteI can only speak for myself, and I think 'femme' fits me better than 'dame' ;D
Salut Jilly! The Ingres painting is a beautiful welcome for the LADIES to "powder their noses." Formidable! It's a fancy hotel in fancy Monaco donc je prefere DAMES et pas FEMMES. Bonjour d'EAGAN daily photo
ReplyDeleteFunny! I vote for Dames. I have always prefered to be called a lady rather than a woman. But I'll take either over girl!!!
ReplyDeleteI think either will work. When I need to use the facility, I'm not so concerned with what the call it.
ReplyDeleteI love that mural!
I agree Sharon! As long as it doesn't say hommes, messieurs, gents, men, or uomini, I'm i!
ReplyDeleteI like to think of all women as Ladies. But more importantly, I can't get over the artwok. It's a fantastic mural. What's on the "gentlemen's" wall??
ReplyDeleteFrank, I didn't see it. Next time I'll look!
ReplyDeleteHi! I was there 3 years ago. Is there still the pink wall with the heart in the next room? A friend of mine hat much fun there taking photos of each other!
ReplyDeleteDon't remember the wall with the heart so I can see I'll have to go back and photograph that one day!
ReplyDeleteLeave it like it is. That is so cool!
ReplyDeleteYes Jilly, you'll have to go back ! To many things to check!
ReplyDelete- is there a wall with a heart ?
- has the "dames" note been cleaned up?
And my own question :
Was the Ingres copy really hand painted or was it a wallpaper?
I LOVE that Ingres nude anyway. It's CLASSY !
Nathalie, you are right, I must go back. I think the wall is a digital photo blown up - I don't think it's a mural.
ReplyDeleteToday Vanessa Paradis and film crew are working outside the hotel.
Salut Jilly
ReplyDeleteIngres is classy , like the photo
hopefully you can get photo of Vanessa shes cool