Years ago, when an annual Caribbean cruise was a part of our vacation plans, Bill and I would always pack a Speedo-style swimsuit since that was what everyone else our age was wearing. If we attempted that now, the Fashion Police might have something to say, although I’ve just learned a French expression that could keep us out of trouble. C’est au gôut du jour means that something has been brought back into fashion to meet today’s taste. The website “CityOrCity” compiled a list of perfectly normal activities in America that are either strongly frowned upon in France or are outright illegal. Going with that swimsuit theme, let’s dive right in.

In Carcassonne, we’re lucky to have several municipal pools, including one that’s more like an aquaparc with indoor and outdoor pools, waterslides, play pools for children, a sauna, and a steam room. At all of these facilities, however, this rule applies to everyone:

No board shorts, street wear, or loose clothing—for women it must be a standard one or two-piece bathing suit and for men, yep, that body-hugging Speedo-style or swim briefs. The logic is that you might wear board shorts both on the street and then in the pool while requiring you to change into swim attire helps to keep the water clean.

Here are some other things that you won’t (or shouldn’t) see in France:

🚦Turning right on red—unless there is a flashing yellow arrow indicating that it is safe to turn, you will get fined for doing this and get points subtracted from your driver’s license. And don’t forget that, unless otherwise marked, cars entering the road from the right have the right of way. This applies even if you’re traveling down a major road and they are joining you from a tiny side street. I’m so glad that we don’t drive here.

Putting ketchup on whatever you want at school—In the cafeteria, condiments like ketchup or mustard can only be served with foods that they traditionally accompany, like fries.

Flying between nearby cities—If you can travel by train solely between two French cities within 2 ½ hours, flights are not available. Connections are allowed—New York to Lyon or Bordeaux via Paris, for example—but not the single Paris to Lyon or Bordeaux flight.

Using a radar detector—Speed detection devices are illegal. The same goes for apps or GPS features that disclose the location of speed cameras.

Ordering an online DNA test—Without a prescription, you’re out of luck. A doctor must determine that the test is necessary for medical or research purposes. That said, at dinner parties, we’ve been asked several times about our family backgrounds and if we’ve taken a test.

Emails from your boss after work hours—While contacting you outside of working hours is not specifically prohibited, punishing an employee who does not respond until they are back on the job definitely is.

Summer hedge trimming—Prohibited for farmers but varies by locality for individual homeowners. Birds can build nests and raise families undisturbed.

Free shipping on books—The law requires a minimum 3€ shipping fee on online book orders  yet one mega-seller gives free shipping on orders of at least 35€ or free to their collection lockers. Despite that, we still have 3 independent bookshops in downtown Carcassonne.

Bill and I don’t have a car so we’re not worried about some of these restrictions. We have no hedges to trim, food that we’d want to smother in ketchup, or a desire to find out our DNA makeup. We buy books locally (public library, anyone?) or read ebooks and there’s no boss who can send emails at any hour of the day or night. There’s just that swimwear question: do we risk a citation from the Fashion Police or a fine from the real police? We’ll ponder that over a glass of wine on our train to Paris. 

Thanks again to Yanis from CityOrCity for compiling this list.

Photo notes: The featured rock garden across the top is at Château de Ranton, the “closed” sign in the first paragraph is in Beaune, the railroad tracks are in Clelles-Mens, the hedges are at Château de Chenonceaux, and that glass of wine was in Périgueux.