Today, I want to show you photos I’ve taken over the past couple of weeks, tell you some of the highlights of coming events in Paris, and for those of you traveling to Paris and France, how to find out about any strikes involving airports and trains.
1—For three weeks, we have had glorious weather: anywhere between 75o to 84o. Yes, that’s hot, but it’s not canicule (heatwave) weather. Most homes and apartments in Paris do not have air conditioning. We buy up all the fans during the winter and have them going all summer! Most apartments also have window and door shutters that can be closed during the highest temperatures of the day. That brilliant invention keeps the room dark and cool. In California, where I am from, the temperature climbs until about 2/2:30 pm when it reaches its peak. Then comes down and, before climate change got so bad, evenings in Northern California were cool. Mark Twain famously said: “The coldest winter I’ve ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.” That’s about right. I always envied people who lived in places where they could eat outdoors and stay long into the evening and not have to put on a coat or sweater. Now, one of those people is me!
Here in France, the mornings are cool. The temperature climbs and reaches its peak around 6 pm, staying there for awhile, then slowly goes back down. Unless there is a thunder storm ahead. Summer evenings in France are heavenly. So many of the districts have music festivals all summer long and one can lie in the grass, with a picnic dinner, and just enjoy!
Saturday, Paris had a surprise thunder storm. I was with a friend and we were going out. She told me to bring my umbrella and a collapsable raincoat I could stick in my backpack. I checked my iPhone which said ‘no rain’. To appease her, I grabbed my umbrella. We got on the metro #9 and got off at Alma-Marceau. We could barely get past all the people huddled in the walkways leading to the exists. It was raining. No. It was pouring. We climbed the stairs, opened our umbrellas, and within a minute, both of us were soaked completely-head to toe. Umbrellas basically non-functional as the wind blew them the wrong way. I ran back down into the station and she followed me. After about 8 minutes when it didn’t look like it would slow down, I told her I was going to take a bus. We had planned on walking because it is such a short distance. Lucky me, I got to the #63 bus stop and the bus was there!!! She walked. Can I defend myself by saying she is a decade younger and walking in the rain is still fun?! This morning, the news said the winds were so high, the rains so bad, that trees were blown over, the coastal town of Dieppe flooded, and there was much damage. There are still storm warnings out. My iPhone now says: “moderate thunderstorm warning until 00.00 Wednesday, June 21.
2—My iPhone (with the untrustworthy weather predictions) says that there will not be rain on Wednesday. No sun either. Cloudy and warm. Wednesday is La nuit de la Musique. All over Paris, street musicians will be out playing till midnight, some arrondissements are planning actual concerts. All public and private venues will be open and are free. My arrondissement is doing something in-between. There is one concert in the chapel of a church, another at Place Jean Lorrain in front of the Monoprix which will have music and story telling, and near the street of Rue d’Auteuil—African musique by students of the Francis Poulenc Conservatory and more, much more.
June 21st is also the first day of summer. Parisians and tourists alike are happy. School vacations aren’t far away. A large percentage of Paris leaves for the summer. August is so quiet that about 50% of stores, that aren’t in the very center of Paris, close for the month. So, there is dancing in the street, big smiles everywhere, and a fleeting sense that all is good in the world. Oh those precious moments when we can forget. La Nuit de la Musique started in Paris, quickly spread thoughout France, then to Europe, and I’m told is celebrated in most countries in the world.
3—If you are traveling to France this summer, keep an eye out for possible transport strikes. One source to read is Euronews.travel or thelocal.fr. No strikes have been announced for France by the French. But…“travellers to and from France from the UK should be aware of the security staff strikes at Heathrow Airport which will affect British Airlines flights to Paris, Toulouse, Nice, and Mulhouse airports on some dates. There is also potential for a strike at Edinburgh Airport, which could affect flights to France run by several airlines, including Air France.”—TheLocal.fr
I will not be writing this blog on a regular schedule from now until the beginning of September. Just thought I’d give you a heads up. I’m not sick or playing hookey just trying to enjoy as much of the summer weather as I can. Thanks for reading this newsletter. It means a lot.
A bientöt,
Sara
I love writings on every day things and happenings! I was going to reach out and ask about your daily Paris live and this piece answered my curiosity :)