Odds and Ends

I haven't written a France odds and ends post yet so here goes:

• You buy one cup of coffee and you get just one. Don't expect a waiter to come up with a pot of coffee and freshen up that cup for you. If you want another cup of coffee you ask for one and you get a fresh cup with fresh coffee and you pay for that one too.
• If you ask for just a coffee you will most likely get a little cup of very strong coffee, an espresso. If you want something that more closely resembles what you drink back in the States then you ask for a "cafe allonge" which is a large coffee (also called a café Americana) which is an espresso in a large cup with hot water added.
• If you want just tap water to drink (instead of that 5 euro bottle of Evian) you ask for "une carafe d'eau", a carafe (or jug) of water. It is against the law for a cafe to refuse to give you tap water if you ask for it.
• Also, you won't get any water unless you ask for it. You won't see waitstaff walking around with pitchers of coffee, or water, to refill your cup or glass either.
• The tip, or "service" is included in the check almost all of the time. However, if you like the service you can leave a few coins, and if you really liked it you leave one euro. 
• The waiter will not introduce himself, come back during the meal multiple times to ask "how is everything tasting?" or be overly friendly in any way. It's a really nice change.
• When crossing the street at a light the little green man that let's you know you can cross will turn to a red man about half way across. I prefer our lights that count down, at least you always know if you have enough time to get across the street.
• Everyone honks at everyone else. All.The.Time.
• You can buy wine in most cafes by the glass, jug/pitcher, or full bottle. If you get a jug of wine (or split) it will sometimes be served in an actual little jug, some of them look as if they belong in your grannie's porcelain collection.
• "To go" is "Take away"
• I have not seen one laundromat anywhere, but plenty of dry-cleaners.