It’s obligatory to make up a pun when in Nice! Originality optional.
All good things come to an end. Having already extended my stay in Marseille, I was moving on. I’m sure I’ll return one day.
Nice was my next destination. The TGV train took about 2½ hours. It was a scenic journey. The train hugged the southern coast of France for much of the way.
Nice is popular. I’d struggled to find an affordable place in Nice because of the season. Eventually, I found an Airbnb apartment. This took about 30 mins to get to from the station.
The apartment had a small kitchen, air-conditioning, and a balcony with panoramic views over Nice. I suspect the apartment might have been free because there’s a 200m uphill walk to get to the apartment! Some people might have been put off.
After settling in, I took a bus towards the old town. It was busy. I walked around aimlessly. At one point, I was in the sun and, even though it was late afternoon, it was extremely hot — probably hotter than anything I’ve experienced on this trip. However, when I turned into a narrow street, it was immediately cool.
Building designers worked out how to keep places cool long before there was air-conditioning or even electricity.
The inside can be kept cool by designing a building a particular way. The library in Avignon was incredibly cool despite it being very hot outside. Thick walls stop heat getting in. If the wall is thick enough, the heat won’t penetrate the building until the evening. At which point, the released heat might be welcome. White or pale walls reflect the sun’s heat. Smaller, recessed and shuttered windows on the sunny side reduce heat entering the building. At night, opening all windows allows the cool night air to flow through the house, giving you a cooler house in the morning.
The outside can be kept cool by having narrow streets so that the buildings shade each other. Tall buildings with overhangs also increase the shade, as do trees. Some towns are designed to allow prevailing breezes to flow through them.
All of these techniques are used in France, especially the south, which is used to a hot climate. That’s why, sometimes, it doesn’t seem as hot there even though the temperature could be higher than in your home country, which might not have been designed for high temperatures.
After emerging from the narrow streets, I was on the coast. I felt the slight sea breeze. Fixed chairs placed on the promenade gave you clear views of the beach and the sea. I sat down for a while and looked at people and the colours of the sea.
When it cooled down, I walked along the promenade. Then I bought some food to make a simple evening meal. Having been in a hotel, I’ve had to eat out for the past couple of weeks. It’s nice to have some home-cooked food.