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NU.nl-lezer Theo Bijlveld deelde zijn verhaal met ons. “Mijn voormalige huisgenoot en ik zitten er middenin. Door te liften ontmoeten we veel verschillende mensen die allemaal hun eigen manier hebben om de hitte te trotseren.”
“We zijn bijvoorbeeld in de buurt van Riva opgepikt door een stel adrenalinejunkies, die ons trakteerden op Campari Spritz (een cocktail, red.) en ons meenamen voor een sprong van een klif”, vertelt Theo.
Inmiddels zit Theo op een strand in de buurt van Rome, waar ook veel toeristen te vinden zijn die de hitte van de stad ontwijken. “Het is echt ontzettend druk op het strand. Dat lijken voornamelijk toeristen te zijn. Je hoort veel Engels en Duits om je heen.”
“See the city at night”
The classic Italian holiday month is August. Thus, most Italians only work. “Life goes on normally for the Italians,” assures Theo.
It’s different for tourists, tourist hotspots seem less crowded. “In the middle of the day, it is recommended to seek shade and not to engage in very active activities.”
These Italians here are crazy. They just walk in long pants.
Italians have their own schedules for sultry 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 cooler and you can at least walk around a bit. That’s why we booked a tour of the city in the evening.”
For Theo, coffee is his savior to escape the heat. “Fortunately, iced coffee in Italy isn’t bad, otherwise we would have succumbed to the heat a long time ago.”
‘Happy with 32 degrees in the evening’
Holidaymakers Barbara and Erik Versluis are also suffering from the extreme heat in southern Italy. “It’s been scorching hot since early morning. 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. “These 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 are staying, the red weather code already applies due to the heat. Although life goes on for the locals, they take the warning seriously. “Here the streets are completely deserted from 1 p.m. Life resumes from 6 p.m.”
The two Dutch adapt to the Italians. “In the afternoon, we stay inside, otherwise it’s impossible. Everyone walks around with liter water bottles and fans.”
“I fear for the future”
Hans van der Graaf travels through southern Italy with his girlfriend. “There are not too many people here, which is probably due to both the heat and the Italian holiday period. Daytime activities are limited to the pool or the beach. Temperatures are around the 40 degrees, which is not really inviting to go there during the day,” says Hans.
“I fear for the future, in which these temperatures will become more normal. This area would then become too hot for me to stay.”
The Italian world looks languid, it sees it. “The beaches are overcrowded, but the streets are really deserted. In the evening, people go out. All day long, you see sparrows, pigeons and swallows go by, but otherwise you see few animals. You hardly see people, everyone seems to be on the beach or by the pool.”
“Small shops in the area are also closed in the afternoon. In Lecce, for example, everything is closed except for a few restaurants.” Even the mornings are already too hot. “I like to run, but even in the morning it’s impossible, because even at night the temperature barely drops below 30 degrees.”
During a day in nature, he found out where many Italians are hiding. “It’s livelier in the woods. It’s wonderful out there, it’s definitely doable and it’s a few degrees cooler. We saw a lot of people picnicking and walking around.”
‘You want sun and heat, otherwise you won’t go’
Finally, holidaymaker Guido Steusel encourages Dutch tourists to continue enjoying their holidays.
“Don’t worry about the heat, but adapt. After all, you want sun and heat in summer, otherwise you won’t go to southern Europe.”
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