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🇮🇸 Iceland /Disasters & Emergencies

Icelandic Family Braves Paris Heatwave on Son's First Trip Abroad

From Morgunblaðið · () Icelandic

Translated from Icelandic, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • A family on vacation in Paris is experiencing an intense June heatwave, with temperatures reaching nearly 41 degrees Celsius.
  • Despite the extreme heat, the family is trying to enjoy their trip, focusing on indoor activities and seeking shade when outdoors.
  • The heatwave has led to some public spaces, like the Eiffel Tower, closing early, and has emptied streets during the hottest parts of the day.

A family from Iceland is navigating an unprecedented heatwave during their first overseas trip with their six-month-old son in Paris. Lilja Ósk Guðmundsdóttir, her partner Einar Örn Magnússon, and their baby are experiencing temperatures soaring to 40.9 degrees Celsius, a June record for the French capital.

The heat did not ruin the trip. The family is positive and it will be a good story in the future that the son's first overseas trip was in a heatwave.

— Lilja Ósk GuðmundsdóttirReflecting on the family's experience during the Paris heatwave.

Despite the sweltering conditions, the family is determined to make the most of their vacation. Lilja described how Parisian streets become eerily empty between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. as residents and tourists seek refuge indoors. The family has focused on hopping between shops and using the metro for transportation, always keeping the baby in his stroller with a fan.

They managed a visit to Versailles, staying in the shade and finding that water was sold out at kiosks, with only sodas and sparkling water available. The extreme heat has prompted authorities to take measures, including banning alcohol sales at some public events and opening parks around the clock. However, Lilja noted that enforcement of the alcohol ban seemed lax, as they were able to bring a bottle of wine through Eiffel Tower security.

It was very interesting when we were at the Palace of Versailles, the water was sold out at the kiosk. There were only sodas and sparkling water. There was an incredibly long queue for water and ice, and then it was announced that the water was finished.

— Lilja Ósk GuðmundsdóttirDescribing the scarcity of water during their visit to Versailles due to the heat.

While the heat presents challenges, particularly during a subway ride on a non-air-conditioned train that caused Lilja anxiety for her son, she remains positive. She views the experience as a story they will tell in the future: their son's first international trip was during a historic heatwave.

He is always in his stroller when we are out and he has a fan. We never take him out of the stroller when we are outside, it's just not an option.

— Lilja Ósk GuðmundsdóttirExplaining how they manage with their six-month-old son during the extreme heat.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Morgunblaðið in Icelandic. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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