We won’t tell you anything, in Toulouse, it’s very hot. The orange heatwave alert has been triggered and we will have to deal with temperatures of up to 40 degrees in the coming days. Between the red bricks of the typical small streets, it is a real oven for passers-by and locals. At the Capitole, while holidaymakers spread out on the terraces, taking advantage of the shade of the parasols, passers-by weave their way under the shades placed near the arcades. A small islet protected from the sun which is not unanimous.
“On five meters, we are a little covered and as it is windy, it is pleasant”, observes Thierry, cap screwed on his bald head accompanied by his three children. The engineer does not however marvel at this invention of ribbon curtains: “It is to pass in the shade but we already have the arcades… It will not save us from the 35 degrees”, slices the father of the family while her three toddlers devour ice cream that melts at the speed of light.
“I thought it was decoration”
“In reality, it’s super pretty, it’s decorative. Afterwards, when it’s hot, it’s hot, that’s how it is. I don’t have the impression that we can do much more”, judge for his part Henri. The young law student returned to prepare for his return to school but did not expect such temperatures. “To choose, I prefer to settle in Place du Capitole than in my apartment!” The real oven is in my house,” he laughs, fan in hand ready to be deployed.
A few steps away, rue Alsace-Lorraine, under these same shade houses, the air currents created by the moving ribbons are welcome. But, “positioned above the path where cars and bicycles pass… In short, where you can never walk, it is not logical”, considers, sweat on the forehead, Mathilde, a shopkeeper from the main street. On this essential axis of the hypercentre, walkers are on the sidewalks, therefore next to the shade structures. “I thought it was decoration… We’re not going to get very far with that under 40 degrees”, adds Manuela, a Franco-Spanish tourist, water bottle in hand. The 30-year-old accustomed to the strong heat of her native Andalusia makes fun of the locals a little… With her small accent, the language teacher “wishes courage” to escape the temperatures. “And a little more inventiveness!” “.
Later closings in museums, swimming pools and parks
If for the moment, the municipality does not have data that can prove or not the effectiveness of these shadehouses and the trees in pots set up this summer, the people of Toulouse are not totally condemned to drip under the shadehouses of Alsace- Lorraine.
Thanks to the start of the heat wave plan, the Toulouse-Lautrec, Papus, Jany and Bellevue swimming pools will welcome the public until 10 p.m., while Nakache and Castex will remain open until 9 p.m. except Saturday due to the TFC-PSG match. Toulouse beaches, as well as the Lac de la Ramée are accessible until 8 p.m. The opportunity to soak to cool off. Watch out for hot shots though!
On the parks and gardens side, to find a little shade and air at the foot of the trees, they will close between 10 and 11 p.m. depending on the site. Senior restaurants and cultural venues will also close later.
If the municipal services are acclimatizing to the suffocating heat, you have to remain vigilant: hydrate, stay in the shade, cover your head and avoid jogging on the aisles at 2 p.m….