Someone Should Have Smacked Me
Remember when I complained about the cold? Yeah, just goes to show.
Yesterday was 30 C (90 F). Which, in Madison, was hot, but not unbearable. But Paris isn't prepared for this. No one has A/C. I mean NO ONE. Restaurants? Nope. Grocery stores? Only the frozen foods isle (and really, how long can you look at a bag of peas before people just start to think you're weird?) Department stores? Sweat all over the stuff you can't afford.
Even the places that say they do are just a few degrees cooler than outside, if that.
So, if you hear someone say that the french are stinky, now you know why. You would be, too.
PS If anyone is sending a care package my way, some Decaffeinated Luzianne Tea would be heaven right now. (I get the shakes when I drink the leaded version.)
13 Comments:
We've got to get this iced tea things donw, girl... and the AC, yeah it really sucked my first year in France. I've been here for 3 now and I think I'm all over it and then a day last yesterday happens and I'm dreaming of AC. Try frozen washcothes before bed and cold showers. At least today is cooler! Finally the skies have opened up! Yay!
Know what you mean....when we were in Paris for about a wk, it was during the fall a few yrs back that they had the heat wave in Europe and many were dying. It was so hot and supposedly we had AC in our hotel......well if you count and open window. We even had someone come to ck it. Thought it wasn't working.....yep it was! Seems 90' always seems hotter in big metropolitan cities doesn't it? Happened to us in NYC too and LA. It has been so nice here lately. Was in the 80's last couple days and no wind.....a real accomplishment in ND....take it easy in the heat.....find a fan, a cool drink and crank the fan up to high....B
Heh, Heh.....was chuckling to myself when I read your blog about heat in Paris w/o a/c.The first time we were in Paris, it was a blistering hot Sept. Our hotel advertised as having a/c. When we complained after a sleepness night,the desk clerk sent someone up to look at our thermostat, and, he (they swear) fixed the problem. BUT, the 4 nights we were there, we slept au naturel, with the window wide open, PRAYING for a little bit of a breeze. You're right. There is no such thing as a/c in gay paree!! auntie v.
Movie theatres are usually pretty cool... Just a tip for when the heat is really unbearable!
I was wondering when you would experience the warmer version of Paris! Churches are a cool and dark respite from the heat. A dehumidifier will keep your apartment a little cooler and will dry your clothes at the same time. Barfly off the Champs Elysees at av. George V is very cool inside with decent food and yummy drinks like strawberry juice.
I lived in Paris during one of the worst "canicules" ever -- 1990. Brutal.
However, you are too kind. The French are also stinky in the winter, spring and fall.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Ernest, Feel free to come to my blog and say mean things about Canadians. I do, all the time!
OK people, be nice or I'll send you all to the principal.
And don't think I'm kidding--I mean it! Now knock it off!
:O)
By the way, the stinkiest person I've met in France wasn't French... (it was at the Louvre, she was speaking a language I didn't recognize, and she reintroduced me to my lunch. Not exaggerating. Yuck.)
I didn't think I was being mean!
I removed Ernest's comment, not because it was horrible, but because it linked to some strange site that I didn't trust. I don't want to get hacked by some bot! So Ernest, if you are offended, I am sorry. If you are a real person, I'd appreciate linking to a profile, instead of some random site.
And Rondi, I don't think you were mean! I just nip arguments in the bud--it's the middle school teacher in me. :)
I'm surprise than you have removed my comment, first it seems to me that it was not an "horrible" comment and moreover the "strange site than you didn't trust" it's just a computer scientist website. I'm sorry if you was affraid, it was not my intention! :)
I don't want to create a profile, and when i post a comment anywhere, i link this website because I take part in it and it's like my homepage (But it's not in fact, i'm just one computer scientist among many who take part).
Anyway, the fact is that i was feeling offended by "The French are also stinky in the winter, spring and fall". Sorry but it seems obvious to me that it's not very kind. Moreover i think this "bash somebody" attitude is very agressive.
Ps: Sorry for my bad english. I know i must do some effort but i don't have the time...
No problem, Ernest, I just didn't know and wanted to be careful. The page you linked wasn't a personal page, so I didn't know if this was just intended to cause more traffic to this site, for some reason. Now that I know you are a real person, I'll make sure you're linked. :) Just being cautious--I'm not as computer-savvy as many, and don't want to make a big mistake (I heard there was a virus on ParisDailyPhoto, and I am on a mac, so there could be one that I don't know about on mine.) Anyway, that is a long answer, but I hope it makes sense.
I don't think your comment was offensive at all, and I agree that the idea that french people are stinky all the time is ludicrous--this was my attempt to at least throw a few pebbles at the myth (I know I can't destroy it.) But, it is true that there is more BO in France than the US--but people are somewhat obsessed with personal and environmental cleanliness there, to the detriment of our environment, due to the groundwater runoff and bacteria that become super-resistant due to antibacterial product waste. Plus, the scents that are added to products and the flavors added to food have to be really strong because people are desensitized now. I find that they are too strong for me, and seek out more natural items.
OK, I could go on forever, but I'll just stop now. :o)
Post a Comment
<< Home