All of Europe is suffering under a heat wave. In Toulouse, the temperature reached 33/92 degrees. The difference from summer in Washington is that there is not as much humidity so it does not feel as oppressive. Also, there is a breeze so that makes it feel a little cooler.

I got motivated earlier in the morning as I knew it was going to be hot as I wanted to go to the vegetable market for fruit for breakfast, lunch and some dinners. The market is on the Boulevard de Strasbourg which is about a 15 minute walk. Luckily, most of the route is shaded so I was not in the direct sun. I was able to get a variety of fruits to enjoy, a cantaloupe (small), some peaches, cherries and clementines. I am trying not to buy too much as I only have one week left here.

This time of my trip always gets a little complicated. I do not want to buy too much food as I do not want to waste anything but I have to figure out how to be economical about eating. I do not want to go out for every meal. It is not really bad, just have to plan correctly.

After putting away the fruit and reading some, I headed out to get lunch. Tuesday is always a lunch out day as I run in the evening. I went to Chez Nico. It is an Asian street food restaurant and is very good. I can Porc Haché Caramélisée. I, also, had Tsing Tao beer. It was a good meal for a hot day.

After lunch, I walked over to Monoprix as I needed orange juice, milk and yogurt. Dinner on running nights is yogurt and fruit since I usually have a big meal at lunch.

The run was hot but pleasant. The Run in Toulouse leaders always choose shaded routes on hot days. They, also, have planned water spots. Toulouse has a great number of public water fountains. It might come from the time when potable water was not readily available in homes so the city provided potable water at street fountains.

My lack of using water on runs was mentioned by Elliot. I told him he was one of many of my running friends who cannot believe that I neither drink water or sweat. I told him I was a genetic defective as I have told most other people.

I forgot to mention yesterday that Whit Monday (the Monday after Whit Sunday) is an interesting work day in France. It is a quasi-holiday. A number of years ago, there was a terrible heat wave in France and many elderly and disabled people died. After that experience France set up a day where workers would work but would not be paid and the money for that day would go to social services so the deaths would not happen again. I gather you can work and not get paid, work from home or just take the day off. Not matter what you do, the money goes to a fund. Even if you do not work, you get a tax taken out of you pay for this policy. It is considered a “solidarity” work day. I somehow cannot imagine something like this ever happening in the United States.