summer 2006
Sweat trickling down between your shoulder blades?Hot and sticky under the collar?
Have you found yourself in a major city this summer, wishing that you were lying on a beach somewhere else instead? Don�t let it get you all worn out � find a way to cope with the heat in the city instead.
We all know that travelling in summer is fabulous � sunny skies, summer festivals, and longer days. But the downside is that unless you�re by the sea or breathing in some fresh mountain air, things get really hot and sweaty – especially if you find yourself in a major city.
However, the heat doesn�t mean that you need to stay at your hostel, suffering in front of the closest fan. It just means you need to do some smart travelling, shadow skipping and breeze searching!
Some essential tips to keep your cool? No need to always hide in the shadows (although it would help) � a few simple tips will keep the heat down.
+ drink lots (and lots) of water
+ carry a fan (or at a pinch, a hard piece of paper) to cool yourself down with
+ wear loose, light clothing
+ spend the hotter parts of the day indoors checking out an exhibition or museum (Good thing that most museums and galleries are air-conditioned!)
With temperatures soaring, some cities have come up with great ways to stay cool. Paris has re-opened the �Paris Plage� this year, and until August, you can sunbake your afternoons away on a man-made sand bank between Ile St. Louis and Jardin des Tuileries. Or, you can take a dip in the floating pool on the left bank to cool down. If you�re in Rome, you�ll find some sundecks and another man-made pool, in the shadows of Castel St Angelo. In Berlin, dig your toes into the sand and knock back a cool drink at one of her beach bars along the River Spree.
No man made pools or temporary beaches in sight? Just grab a spare towel and plant yourself at the closest shady park instead. You can catch up on some writing, reading � and just recharge for when the sun heads back down. After all, summer nights are the best reason to be out travelling!
