Irish travellers abroad might currently be basking in more sunshine than those back home, however, the heatwave in numerous regions of Europe is seeming unbearable for some.
Last month saw intense heatwaves in many Mediterranean-bordering countries while June turned out to be the warmest ever on record, as reported by the EU’s climate change monitoring service.
Donal Bracken and his family are frequent guests of France and Italy, having visited these countries repeatedly since 2008. Although their fondness for this part of Europe remains unchanged, dealing with the growing temperatures has become more challenging this summer compared to the previous ones.
Bracken specifies, “Our favourite activity is camping and we generally spend a month at Lago de Trasimeno situated between Umbria and Tuscany borders. We reached our camping site this year on July 16th when the temperature was already 35 degrees. Since then, it has fluctuated between 30 and 36 degrees. These temperatures are significantly higher than what we’ve encountered in the past years.
Bracken adds “We’ve started to get up early, finish our cycling by 11.30 am and relax in the afternoon with the help of caravan air conditioning, saving the evening hours to enjoy when temperatures drop to around 26-29 degrees.
“We’ve never encountered such intense heat in this region ever before. We have decided not to vacation here during July or August in the future as surviving here without air conditioning would be impossible.”
Meanwhile, Layla Kenny, who spent three weeks in Tevoria in the south of Spain before proceeding to Barcelona, states that while the coastal areas were scorching, the city heat is simply “on another scale.”
“She shares, “This intensity of heat was certainly a surprise; it’s a notch higher than what I experienced during my last summer visit. The most blistering day witnessed this far hit 36 degrees in Barcelona, coincidentally the same day we decided to climb the mountains of Montserrat, located on the peripheries of the city.
The heat’s intensity was much heavier in the city in comparison to the coast, but this did not deter us from partaking in our pre-planned activities. One of the reasons was that staying indoors in our flat was not much respite from the unrelenting heat as well. So, we chose to adopt an attitude of acceptance towards the perpetual state of perspiration.”
As for Kenny, she remarks, “The only significant issue I had with the heat was upsetting my stomach. Combining food or beverages with such extreme temperatures resulted in frequent sickness. However, these unpleasant experiences have not dimmed my desire to return to Barcelona, as my days here have been thoroughly enjoyable.
Despite feeling like my body has largely adapted to these conditions, I must acknowledge that this sentiment is not commonly shared amongst other Irish folk who generally find these temperatures a tad challenging.”
Her travel mate Anastasiia Momot, a native of Ukraine who has spent 2½ years living in Dublin, is well-acquainted with how the Spanish weather stands in stark contrast to her adopted homeland.
She vents, “It’s reported that Barcelona was 36 degrees, but to me, it felt more like 46 degrees. I bout of such intense heat, but did not anticipate that it would hit me so hard. By the second day, I was ready to return to Ireland. Our beach time has not been substantial, we participated in all planned activities. The best being paddle boarding at 6 am – the spectacular view, pleasant weather, and warm sea made it worthwhile.”
To sum it up she said, “I resonate more with the ethos of Irish weather. While Spain is undoubtedly breathtaking with its exquisite delicacies and hospitable residents and I would assuredly make a return trip, I would avoid the summer season.”
Tony Sheehan and his kin have been bearing the sweltering conditions in Alpes-Maritimes, part of the region of Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur in France, a location anticipated to be cooler considering it’s situated further north. Being in the city centre, the combination of extreme heat and concrete surroundings has only intensified the fervour.
Cannes’s temperature currently registers at 34 degrees centigrade. However, the actual heat, especially in the heart of the city, seems to be more by a few degrees due to the heat-absorbing concrete lining the centre. The scorching conditions are so severe that Sheehan’s mobile device could not withstand it and eventually broke down.
Besides, the bustling Cannes city witnesses dense traffic, and the terrible smell of petrol from various motorbikes and premium cars like Ferraris is both nauseating and repulsive. Astonishingly, not a single electric vehicle has been spotted in the area. Sheehan also remarks on the poor state of the sea, which is warm and tastes of marine fuel, probably due to the numerous yachts and cruisers anchored off the beach. He believes that the local French lifestyle is a reminiscent of the 1980s and states that if it is true that a mere 1 per cent of the population contributes to 90 per cent of pollution, it is glaringly visible right here.
Nonetheless, even with the scorching conditions compelling many Irish tourists to search for shade and apply copious amounts of sunscreen, it doesn’t deter them from enjoying their holidays. Aideen Lawlor proves this point festively.
Currently vacationing in France, Lawlor and her family have been making the most of their getaway, utilising the facilities around Bouches-du-Rhone in Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur. Just having spent a fortnight in Toulon and Marseilles, Lawlor finds the temperature to be around 33 to 34 degrees, noticeably hotter than their past visits during the same period. Despite the unprecedented high temperatures this summer, the family of four’s holiday spirit remains undampened as they continue enjoying their time on the beach, attending Olympic events, and indulging in the festive holiday atmosphere.
“The French have adapted to the hot climates and thus, better facilitation is offered on the beachfront, including shaded spots. We found the Olympic Sailing event we participated in to have pristine beaches, water facilities at no cost, complimentary boat rides and mist sprays. With ample sunscreen, appropriate attire and options to cool off, we ensured a safe and enjoyable experience in the intense sunlight. Furthermore, it became an opportunity to generate fond memories for our clan.”