International reporting
Heat records in Portugal
Audio 02:19
General view of Lisbon.
© Manfred Gottschalk / Getty Images
By: Marie-Line Darcy
2 mins
Once again, heat records have been reached in Portugal.
At the Pinhão weather station near Viseu, in northern Portugal, 47 degrees were recorded.
The heat wave and fire alerts will probably be lifted this Sunday, July 17.
In the meantime, in Lisbon where the thermometers have climbed to 42 degrees, we are composing to escape the heat.
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From our correspondent in Lisbon,
In the very busy Carmo street, in the heart of Lisbon, Béatrice paints and sells her watercolors to passers-by.
She sat down on the ground in the shade to escape the heat: "
It's really hot, it's not easy
," breathes Béatrice.
“
I bring ice water, I drink cold and I also have a mist to cool off.
I do not forget the sunscreen, but hey, it is better to stay in the shade.
When it was 41 degrees or more, it was too complicated, I didn't leave my house
, ”she adds.
► To read also: Western Europe overwhelmed by the heat wave and the forest fires
Waiting under the sun is painful for João, a tuk-tuk driver.
Usually, he works in Sintra, 30 km away, but a heat wave and fire notice forced the town hall of the tourist town to close the monuments: “
Only one castle is open in Sintra.
It's a whole week wasted for work!
Changing places of work like that at the last moment is painful.
Especially since they cordoned off Sintra without warning.
But it's getting better.
It was over 40 degrees, but we are getting closer to 30
”, explains João.
The heat affects the inhabitants, but everyone has their tricks for escaping the heat.
Marina, 70 years old: “
I seek shade, I drink a lot of water, especially fresh water, or if I'm near the beach, I often go in the water.
I go there every day, because I live very close to the beach
”.
The advantage of Lisbon: its nearby beaches.
In town, we take things with humor, like Maria waiting for the metro: “
Ah yes, it's really hot.
But I'm also hot because of the menopause.
It's painful, you raise an arm and you sweat.
But I'm holding on!
I take two showers a day.
And my fan helps me a lot, without it, God preserve me!
exclaims Maria.
Lisbon relies on the nearby ocean to refresh its days and nights.
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