Sacha, I was just thinking: look on the French Amazon site for cooling neck wraps. I have two and keep whichever one I’m not using in the fridge during heatwaves. They really help.
No heat is as awful as heat in Paris, IMO. Our grandson's crèche was closed on Monday because of the heat, but I found out from our daughter that it has air conditioning! I seriously don't get the reasoning there. A good number of these babies and toddlers live in apartments without it. Fortunately our daughter's family does have AC in the living room at least.
It is a bit better here -- we're on vigilance orange, not rouge, thanks to the altitude.
Thanks Betty! Same to you—it’s really unbelievable. But like I said, I’m very fortunate and I don’t take that for granted. So many others have it far, far worse.
That sounds utterly miserable. It's time for someone on the planet to invent heat/solar-powered air conditioning (and for the French to get over their outdated fear of A/C -- thousands are actually dying so it's no longer a moral issue but a survival issue).
I’ve been to the gym today that has minimal AC. Luckily only a 4 min walk. Then I drove across town to sit in the pool. Now I’m on my sofa in the dark with AC going. I thought today, I need to repent, I won’t do well in hell. I hate it here in this heat. I too try to remind myself others have it far worse. We can only take Zelda across the street quickly to pee and quickly back home before her flat little face gives in. I wouldn’t blame her if she just peed in the house at this point.
Stay cool up there. We can remind ourselves of this in January and we are saying how we can’t wait for summer. Yes, yes we can.
The gym is basically the one thing keeping me sane. Usually I go every other day but this week, I’m going every day at the crack of dawn. Poor Zelda! What about pee pads for her?
Desparately seeking shade is CORRECT- from my own skin, if I may add as well. I have never wanted to take off my own skin before. This heat is wild. Drinking my body weight in water, showering 3 times a day and am super grateful for the giant ceiling fans in my apartment. Otherwise I do not know how I would function. Stay cool, Sacha! 💦
It’s definitely rough right now. We’re hunkered down in our living room from 12-7 because it’s the only reasonably comfortable room in the house (bottom floor, stone walls, strong fan). And researching air conditioning units. We’ve got a 12 year old dog we’re trying to keep cool too.
This really hit home (so to speak). Nigel and I have been talking seriously about making France our home base after nearly two years of slow travel, and this heatwave has become part of the conversation.
We love so much about France, but I find myself wondering how we'll feel about the increasingly hot summers as we get older. We can always spend the hottest months elsewhere for now, but eventually that may not be as easy. Ironically, our air-conditioned home base in Texas has started sounding a little more appealing than it once did.
I suppose every place asks something of us. The trick is figuring out which tradeoffs we're happiest to live with. 💛
Yes, this has been very hard and unfortunately climate change only going to get worse.
You’re right though— every place asks something of us. When we lived in the DC area, it was sweltering hot during the summers as well, but of course there’s air-conditioning there.
I really had no idea that we would be hit with this kind of heat this early on in the summer.
My heart is breaking for the people that don’t have any resources or anywhere to go.
Just sitting calmly with the fan helps, but one can't do that All day! I don't remember ever seeing the morning temperatures so high, about 23 here, so the house doesn't really cool down from one day to the next. Upstairs, it was 35 in the office that faces south, despite the plastic shutter being closed all day.
However, I think that in Paris and other cities the lack of air movement is worse, as is the effect from the blacktop giving off its heat for at least half the nights.
This is my second summer in Tours, France. Yesterday it was 110° F. I refuse to be a prisoner in my apartment. Had coffee at my nearby, climatisé, Café pâtisserie NU/ANCES. Took the tram to the library which unfortunately closed at noon??? So, I walked slowly toward home along the river Loire staying in the shade. Sat on a bench where I enjoyed a magnificent view of the Pont Wilson reflected in the calm water. Pas mal.☺️
Good for you, Patricia! It’s important to keep up some sort of “normal” routine and to get out. A little cafe with a/c nearby has been a wonderful refuge for me.
I am watching from afar with concern and deep sympathy. To me, AC in the summer is as essential as heat in the winter. Perimenopause, which started for me in my early 30s, was more than enough. I absolutely loathe being hot. Here in normally sweltering Toronto, it has been unseasonably cool with temps in the low 20s…While most around me are bitching and complaining, I am grateful. Hoping the dreadful heat you’re enduring lets up soon.
I’m with you! I loathe being hot as well. Give me snow and zero degrees and I’m very happy. Fortunately we have 2 excellent fans and a portable a/c in the bedroom.
We fled to the beach, my DiL, grandson & I. It’s still hot here but the Gite is quite cool and the deep green shade blissful. Sadly only until Thursday - which I think is the hottest day? 🔥🥵🔥
The small towns in the countryside are a bit better. But not much.
Ah oui. La canicule. C’est le pire. Tu me rappelles la lutte. Ugh.
Sacha, I was just thinking: look on the French Amazon site for cooling neck wraps. I have two and keep whichever one I’m not using in the fridge during heatwaves. They really help.
No heat is as awful as heat in Paris, IMO. Our grandson's crèche was closed on Monday because of the heat, but I found out from our daughter that it has air conditioning! I seriously don't get the reasoning there. A good number of these babies and toddlers live in apartments without it. Fortunately our daughter's family does have AC in the living room at least.
It is a bit better here -- we're on vigilance orange, not rouge, thanks to the altitude.
Good luck getting through this.
Thanks Betty! Same to you—it’s really unbelievable. But like I said, I’m very fortunate and I don’t take that for granted. So many others have it far, far worse.
That sounds utterly miserable. It's time for someone on the planet to invent heat/solar-powered air conditioning (and for the French to get over their outdated fear of A/C -- thousands are actually dying so it's no longer a moral issue but a survival issue).
Agree 1000%!
I’ve been to the gym today that has minimal AC. Luckily only a 4 min walk. Then I drove across town to sit in the pool. Now I’m on my sofa in the dark with AC going. I thought today, I need to repent, I won’t do well in hell. I hate it here in this heat. I too try to remind myself others have it far worse. We can only take Zelda across the street quickly to pee and quickly back home before her flat little face gives in. I wouldn’t blame her if she just peed in the house at this point.
Stay cool up there. We can remind ourselves of this in January and we are saying how we can’t wait for summer. Yes, yes we can.
The gym is basically the one thing keeping me sane. Usually I go every other day but this week, I’m going every day at the crack of dawn. Poor Zelda! What about pee pads for her?
She wouldn’t know what to do with them. lol. Luckily the canal is just steps from our front door so we go quickly.
Desparately seeking shade is CORRECT- from my own skin, if I may add as well. I have never wanted to take off my own skin before. This heat is wild. Drinking my body weight in water, showering 3 times a day and am super grateful for the giant ceiling fans in my apartment. Otherwise I do not know how I would function. Stay cool, Sacha! 💦
Thank goodness for fans. Stay cool, yourself, Leslie!
It’s definitely rough right now. We’re hunkered down in our living room from 12-7 because it’s the only reasonably comfortable room in the house (bottom floor, stone walls, strong fan). And researching air conditioning units. We’ve got a 12 year old dog we’re trying to keep cool too.
Oh, Stephanie--I know all too well how having a pet adds to the stress/anxiety. Take care of yourselves!
Thanks. You too!
Feeling for all of you over here in NYC where it’s a more temperate 86 degrees.
This really hit home (so to speak). Nigel and I have been talking seriously about making France our home base after nearly two years of slow travel, and this heatwave has become part of the conversation.
We love so much about France, but I find myself wondering how we'll feel about the increasingly hot summers as we get older. We can always spend the hottest months elsewhere for now, but eventually that may not be as easy. Ironically, our air-conditioned home base in Texas has started sounding a little more appealing than it once did.
I suppose every place asks something of us. The trick is figuring out which tradeoffs we're happiest to live with. 💛
Yes, this has been very hard and unfortunately climate change only going to get worse.
You’re right though— every place asks something of us. When we lived in the DC area, it was sweltering hot during the summers as well, but of course there’s air-conditioning there.
I really had no idea that we would be hit with this kind of heat this early on in the summer.
My heart is breaking for the people that don’t have any resources or anywhere to go.
Just sitting calmly with the fan helps, but one can't do that All day! I don't remember ever seeing the morning temperatures so high, about 23 here, so the house doesn't really cool down from one day to the next. Upstairs, it was 35 in the office that faces south, despite the plastic shutter being closed all day.
However, I think that in Paris and other cities the lack of air movement is worse, as is the effect from the blacktop giving off its heat for at least half the nights.
This is my second summer in Tours, France. Yesterday it was 110° F. I refuse to be a prisoner in my apartment. Had coffee at my nearby, climatisé, Café pâtisserie NU/ANCES. Took the tram to the library which unfortunately closed at noon??? So, I walked slowly toward home along the river Loire staying in the shade. Sat on a bench where I enjoyed a magnificent view of the Pont Wilson reflected in the calm water. Pas mal.☺️
Good for you, Patricia! It’s important to keep up some sort of “normal” routine and to get out. A little cafe with a/c nearby has been a wonderful refuge for me.
The animals ! That alone will keep me up at night.
Oh it’s horrid!
I am watching from afar with concern and deep sympathy. To me, AC in the summer is as essential as heat in the winter. Perimenopause, which started for me in my early 30s, was more than enough. I absolutely loathe being hot. Here in normally sweltering Toronto, it has been unseasonably cool with temps in the low 20s…While most around me are bitching and complaining, I am grateful. Hoping the dreadful heat you’re enduring lets up soon.
I’m with you! I loathe being hot as well. Give me snow and zero degrees and I’m very happy. Fortunately we have 2 excellent fans and a portable a/c in the bedroom.
We fled to the beach, my DiL, grandson & I. It’s still hot here but the Gite is quite cool and the deep green shade blissful. Sadly only until Thursday - which I think is the hottest day? 🔥🥵🔥
Lucky you! Which beach?
We are just S of Dieppe, on the channel. In a town called Verengeville sur mèr. 2 easy hours by car.
Been keeping our eyes on the temperatures in France. Not good or healthy. How's it in the mountains? Can you escape for a few days?
I think it's hot everywhere. I don't think we can get away--and the trains are really struggling with the heat too. really a bad situation.
😭