The cab driver said, “It is 27!†We couldn’t calculate the conversion into Celsius fast enough so we just nodded and said, Mon Dieu! Since then we learned that it is 87 degrees but my e-husband says it only feels like 86. (Note: my e-husband, upon learning that he was mentioned on this blog as my e-husband, requested that I more accurately call him my e-husband and boyfriend. So from now on I will call him my saying my e-husband and b.f. )
Back to the heat wave and fashion. Most buildings and restaurant don’t have air conditioning because it rarely gets this hot. Even though it is sweltering, you don’t see people stripped down like you might expect. They are still walking down the street in skirts, tops and little black flats. We have seen very few Americans in shorts and sneakers so perhaps Americans have cleaned up their act. Because if there was a time to wear tank tops, shorts and sneakers—this would be it. We watched a photo shoot and below you will see what the model was wearing to beat the heat. Between shoots the photo stylist sprayed her with water and she sipped Evian from a straw.
This is what a typical french model wears on a typical hot August day
But fear not, the weather has not diminished our appetites one bit. Yesterday we had lunch at our favorite café next door. I ordered the Italian salad which included red tomatoes with hunks of mozzarella, chopped arugula and shaved proscuitto. My e-husband (and b.f.) asked. “What is that spice? And nearly imperceptible to the eye we found flakes of basil cut so tiny that it must have been chopped by fairies. He ordered tagliatelle carbonara which came with a slightly cooked egg plopped on top. The pasta mixed with ham, butter, cream and egg was a dish that may sound questionable but tastes divine.
Our neighborhood is crowded with cafes and small ethic food restaurants—the type of food we love. Our favorite dining experience is to eat with the locals in bistros and cafes. Last night we discovered a small Thai restaurant two blocks away called Livingstone—ehusband said it was best Thai food he’s ever had. The restaurant actually had air conditioning and comfortable benches and we wondered if they would mind if we slept there.
The key to survive the heat is to stay hydrated. So many bottles of wine, so little time!
