When the sun goes down, the heat eases off and you can really soak up that summer vibe, especially when you’re surrounded by nature.
Summer isn’t over yet, and I have to say: I’m so glad it isn’t over yet, because I love summer here, but I haven’t been able to make the most of it as I’d have liked. These past few months have been quite different, with lots going on. My mum has had surgery on both eyes and is doing very well, but other issues have cropped up that needed my attention, so summer simply slipped by without me realising it.
On the other hand, it was unusually hot; I suppose it might be linked to the massive wildfires across Spain, I could see the smoke rolling in, and with it the heat. But there have also been nearly twenty days of very high humidity, which, to be honest, I don’t know where it’s coming from, as that’s also unusual. I believe that Mother Nature regulates herself, so the so-called climate change is caused by human beings themselves, especially those who make the big decisions in the world.
But despite all that, I’m loving summer right now, and one of the alternatives this year, as I haven’t been able to go to the beach very often, has been visiting different parks and promenades surrounded by plants, greenery and trees; and, as you know, I love evening strolls. Sometimes life presents us with a path and we have to adapt, so this has been a great alternative.
This park is quite new, it’s only five years old, and whilst there isn’t much shade during the day, except at the back where the grove of trees that used to be there has been preserved, at night it’s very well lit and is a popular spot both for families taking their children to enjoy the fresh air and the children’s play area, and for people walking their dogs, those doing exercise, and others who simply stroll or sit on a bench to enjoy the space.
It is surrounded by buildings in an old part of the city, but new, multi-storey buildings have also been erected, one of which has been converted into a hotel. For all these reasons, this park is a green lung for the area and is ideal for evening strolls in summer, to get some fresh air after days of intense heat.
The only thing to bear in mind is that it closes at 10 pm, whilst other parks stay open until 11 pm or midnight. So on the few occasions I’ve visited outside opening hours, I’ve walked around the park and found it just as beautiful.
As the humidity here is very high at night and there’s practically no wind, not even a breeze, these places offer a bit of respite from the sweltering days. The good thing is that every neighbourhood has parks and squares, all very well maintained. Everything is always very clean and tidy, and the locals pay close attention to the little details.
Summer evenings are best spent taking a nice long walk; I often go for these walks with my family, chatting and sharing a special moment, and as the nights are much longer than in winter, these walks and chats are a real pleasure.
I’d never been able to go on these evening walks before for safety reasons, but here I can, and I really enjoy these strolls with that vibrant summer atmosphere. When the day has been so stifling that I can’t even breathe, I look forward to the evening so I can enjoy nature within the city. I’ll even take the bus to a park or square. In fact, my family and I have often had evening picnics for dinner, gazing at the moon.
The important thing is to create that positive atmosphere when the heat is really intense, to look for alternatives when the unexpected happens, and to adapt to the circumstances, that’s what I’ve been doing this year. But there’s still plenty of summer left, because here, summer lasts right up until the first few days of November…
Thank you very much for joining me today; I send you my warmest regards and positive vibes. See you soon. Amonet.
All photographs are my own.
