the classic French air conditioning system

We are currently in our third day (of likely four days) of exceptional heat (known in France as a canicule).  Most of the homes here do not have air conditioning (although many restaurants and larger stores do) because it is generally not really needed most of the time.  (Although this may be changing as the climate changes.)

This photo shows how the heat is managed when you don't have air conditioning (this is not our house). If it's not too hot, I open the shutters and windows and let the air flow in.  Often there is a breeze that helps. Augmenting with room fans also helps.  If the sun shines directly into the window, I pull the white curtains to block it.

But on days like today, when it's really hot (note that would be around 30 C / 90 F), I start in the morning by watching the indoor vs outdoor temperatures.  When the outside temperature starts to exceed that of the indoor, I close the windows to hold the indoor temperature steady.  If the sun shines directly into a window, I close the shutters as well.  Our house like many here are made of very thick walls of stone and concrete; ours are 45 cm / 18 inches thick.  These help to keep the excessive heat out and stabilize the temperature inside to a more average one.

Fortunately, these canicules don't happen very often and we normally leave the windows and shutters open all day for much of the year.

unusual window

This window on a busy street would seem to provide some protection while remaining an interesting design.

a balmy day in Amboise

We've had some wonderful weather here lately (although that's about to change).  High temperatures have been in the 20's C / 70-80's F and nice breezes. Still, since most homes do not have air conditioning, it's a good practice to close the shutters to the afternoon sun.

after sunset

the runner up

This was my 2nd choice for yesterday's Theme Day "the beauty of simplicity".

a peaceful scene

I found this shuttered window and the unusual brick design above to be a most-needed peaceful scene today.

la maison art nouveau - the embellished window

I love this house designed in an art nouveau style in central Amboise.  Here is the front door that I posted awhile back.

brick and stone

This is a frequently found motif around this part of the world.  I like the mix of wood, brick, stone, iron, and glass as well as the simplicity of this design.

stable reflections

One of the windows of the stables at château Chaumont.

the two of hearts

I think these Amboise shutters have a simple elegance in design, color, and texture.

shadow play

A pair of Amboise classics in one shot.

the window for Anne de Bretagne

This beautiful window in the state room at the Château d'Amboise honors the queen who lived there while married to the King Charles VIII (from 1491 to 1498).

this is no rant

In spite of what appears to be a subtitle in this shot, this was supposed to be a peaceful view of the château reflected in this window on Place Debré (over a restauRANT, of course).

well worn

But not worn out.  The sun hitting this from the extreme left really made the old grain stand out.

window detail

This window at château Chaumont is constructed similarly to a stained glass window but each piece is round and is clear glass.  The outdoor scene behind gives it the colors.

towering reflection

I found this reflection of one of the towers of the château at Amboise on the main square, Place Debré.

I've looked at clouds from both sides now

Hopefully you won't feel this is overly melancholy for mid-week, but I found these little white lace cloud curtains to look a little too trapped in this dingy window of the local château.  Unfortunately, I could not capture well the real cloud reflections in the glass which would have fulfilled today's title.

For those of you not my vintage, here's the source of this allusion. (And my apologies if you first get a commercial.)

the red shutter

Another study in texture and color of the windows (and shutters) of Amboise.

winter window

The owners of this window have a nice view of the Place Debré, the main town square... and vice versa.

the purple shutters

I really like the color and the overall symmetry of this window and its shutters that I snapped in downtown Amboise.  That little dark "shield" just to the right is a marker indicating how high it is above sea level.  These are subtly place all over town.  I suppose it has something to do with flood planning, but that is just a guess.