- Title: SPAIN: Spain's summer sun hard to enjoy in oppresive soaring temperatures
- Date: 7th August 2008
- Summary: (BN11) MADRID, SPAIN (AUGUST 6, 2008) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF THERMOMETER IN DOWNTOWN MADRID INDICATING 38 DEGREES CELSIUS (100.2 FAHRENHEIT) CARS DRIVING PAST THERMOMETER AT MADRID'S GRAN VIA COUPLE DRINKING AND SHARING WATER FOUNTAIN AT MADRID'S SPAIN SQUARE VARIOUS OF WOMAN COOLING OFF AT SPAIN SQUARE'S FOUNTAIN, WATER JET ON FOREFRONT VARIOUS OF YOUNG PEOPLE SPLASHING WATER ON AT FOUNTAIN YOUNG WOMAN PROTECTING HERSELF WITH AN UMBRELLA, WALKING PAST SQUARE VARIOUS OF TOURISTS WALKING PAST FOUNTAINS, WATER JET ON FOREFRONT GROUP OF PEOPLE WALKING PAST, MAN FANNING HIMSELF COUPLE OF BRITISH TOURISTS COOLING OFF AT FOUNTAIN (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOURISTS FROM ENGLAND, ALAN AND SUSAN, SAYING: SUSAN, SAYING: "We are from England." ALAN SAYING: "In England it is cold." SUSAN, SAYING: "When we left it was raining and windy, it was cold. I'm actually really enjoying it, we haven't had a good summer. Global warming is making it any better, making it a lot wetter. So it's actually nice to have proper heat really." ALAN SAYING: "I feel I belong in the heat." SUSAN, SAYING: "I think when you have to work in the heat it is hard. So we are on holiday, so it is easy for us." WOMAN PROTECTING HER FACE FROM THE SUN WITH A FAN AS SHE CROSSES STREET CLOSE UP OF FAN SPRAYING WATER TO CREATE MICROCLIMATE AT AN OUTDOORS CAFE TERRACE COUPLE HAVING LUNCH AT FAN-COOLED TERRACE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MADRID RESIDENT, GUILLERMO, SAYING: "Truthfully speaking it is awful. Wearing a suit does not help at all but we have a strict dress code to follow at work. We can't even take of our ties off, or anything. But that's the way things are. we do what we can like drinking a lot of water and, well, doing our best." FAN SPRAYING WATER, SUN SHINNING ON BACKGROUND
- Embargoed: 22nd August 2008 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Spain
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Weather,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVABUINYCWGW5NBYZKT8SW2XKX0F
- Story Text: Several Spanish regions in alert due to the extreme heat as temperatures in many places exceed 40 Celsius for the fourth consecutive day. People and even zoo animals find a cure for the summer heat.
Spain entered the fourth day of oppressively hot temperatures on Wednesday (August 6), caused by Africans air currents and in the capital Madrid people do their best to avoid overheating.
Soaring heat is forecast to continue until Friday (August 9) and the worst affected areas are in central and south-east Spain where temperatures will peak over 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).
Many tried to find refuge in fountains or fan-cooled cafes in the capital Madrid where thermometers reached 38 degrees centigrade (100.2 Fahrenheit) and life for those not lucky enough to be on holiday must go on.
Some, mostly tourists, are however drawn to soaring temperatures.
"We are from England and in England it is cold. When we left it was raining and windy, it was cold. I'm actually really enjoying it, we haven't had a good summer. Global warming is making it any better, it is actually making it wetter. So it's actually nice to have a little heat really.
And we don't have to work, I think when you have to work in the heat it is hard. But we are on holiday so it is easy for us," said Alan and Susan from England's West Country.
Heading back to work after the the late lunch-siesta Spanish combo, Guillermo disagreed with the British visitors.
"Truthfully speaking it is awful. Wearing a suit does not help at all but we have a strict dress code to follow at work. We can't even take of our ties off, or anything. But that's the way things are. we do what we can like drinking a lot of water and, well, doing our best," he said.
Animals at Madrid's Zoo also found it hard to keep cool and staff were took extra measures to ensure its diverse residents didn't overheat.
Veterinarian Maria Delclaud likes treating animals with frozen yoghurt, ice-creams.
"Animals follow instinctively the same precautions doctors advise us to take like staying out of direct sunlight during the heat of the day, avoid exercising and so on. If temperatures soar too much we shower them, but generally with their own physiognomy plus the care we give there shouldn't be many negative consequences," she said.
Monkeys and bears are given ice-creams while rhinos prefer to enjoy the benefits of a nice cool shower to nap beneath. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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