The south of Italy has been plagued by a heat wave for weeks. Many Dutch people sought or are looking for the sun in the Mediterranean country. How do they experience the intense heat? Does it ruin their holiday or is it still manageable?
NU.nl reader Theo Bijlveld shared his story with us. “My former roommate and I are in the thick of it. By hitchhiking we meet many different people who all have their own way of braving the heat.”
“For example, we were picked up near Riva by a bunch of adrenaline junkies, who treated us to Campari Spritz (a cocktail, ed.) And took us for a cliff jump,” says Theo.
Theo is now on a beach near Rome, where many tourists can also be found who avoid the heat of the city. “It is really very busy on the beach. They seem to be mainly tourists. You hear a lot of English and German around you.”
Theo Bijlveld took this photo on an Italian beach.
‘See the city at night’
The classic Italian holiday month is August. So most Italians are just working. “Life is still going on normally for the Italians,” says Theo.
It is different for tourists, the tourist hotspots seem less busy. “In the middle of the day it is recommended to seek shade and not to engage in very active activities.”
Those Italians here are crazy. They just walk in long pants.
Barbara Versluis
The Italians have their own schedules for the sweltering afternoons. “We got a tip from a local: if you want to see the city, you should do it in the evening. Then it’s less hot and you can at least walk around a bit. That’s why we booked a city tour in the evening.”
For Theo, coffee is his savior to escape the heat. “Fortunately, the iced coffee in Italy is not bad, otherwise we would have succumbed to the heat long ago.”
‘Happy with 32 degrees in the evening’
Holidaymakers Barbara and Erik Versluis also suffer from the extreme southern Italian heat. “It’s been scorching hot from early in the morning. The temperatures here are around 40 degrees during the afternoon hours. Around 9 p.m. it was 32 degrees and you’re just happy with that.”
The locals don’t care much about the heat. “Those Italians here are crazy. They just walk around in long pants and long-sleeved blouses.”
In the area around the town of Tropea, where the couple is staying, weather code red already applies because of the heat. Although life goes on for the inhabitants, they take the warning seriously. “Here the streets are completely deserted from 1 pm. Life starts again from 6 pm.”
The two Dutchmen adapt to the Italians. “In the afternoon we stay indoors, otherwise it is impossible. Everyone walks around with liter bottles of water and fans.”
Barbara and Erik Versluis in the deserted streets of an Italian city.
‘I fear for the future’
Hans van der Graaf travels through the south of Italy with his girlfriend. “It is not crowded here, which is undoubtedly due to both the heat and the Italian holiday period. Activities during the day are limited to the pool or the beach. The temperatures are around 40 degrees, which is not exactly inviting to go there during the day go,” says Hans.
“I do fear for the future, in which these temperatures will become more normal. This region would then become too hot for me to stay.”
The Italian world looks languid, he sees. “The beaches are overcrowded, but the streets are really deserted. In the evening people come out. All day long you see the sparrows, pigeons and swallows flying back and forth, but otherwise you see few animals. You hardly see people, everyone seems to be on the beach or by the pool.”
“Smaller shops in the region are also closed in the afternoon. In Lecce, for example, everything is closed apart from a few restaurants.” Even the mornings are already too hot. “I like running, but even in the morning it’s impossible to do that, because even at night the temperature barely drops below 30 degrees.”
During a day in nature, he discovered where many Italians hide. “It’s busier in the woods. It’s wonderful there, it’s really doable and a few degrees less warm. We saw a lot of people picnicking and walking.”
Hans captured a deserted afternoon in Lecce.
‘You want sun and warmth, otherwise you won’t go’
Finally, holidaymaker Guido Steusel encourages Dutch tourists to continue to enjoy their holiday.
“Don’t worry about the heat, but adapt. After all, you want sun and heat in the summer, otherwise you won’t go to southern Europe.”
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2023-07-19 03:13:17
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