Siesta

A prominent meteorological expert has issued a stark warning predicting a "meteorological disaster" this year, with the current sweltering heat to "get even more intense."

With temperatures already reaching 37 degrees Celsius in Istanbul, 38 in İzmir, 40 in Antalya and 35 in Ankara, Meteorology expert Orhan Şen said that temperatures will continue to rise.

The heat wave in Europe continues today, with peak temperatures of 46 degrees Celsius expected in the afternoon in southern parts - for example on the Italian island of Sardinia.

Although slight, a decrease is expected tomorrow in the Mediterranean region.

Experts in Athens, Greece, say people should follow in the footsteps of Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher by taking siestas.

“Our study shows that not only is midday sleep associated with lower blood pressure, but longer sleeps are even more beneficial. Midday sleepers had greater dips in blood pressure while sleeping at night, which is associated with better health outcomes.”

It is difficult to understand why there is so much jubilation in Cuba or among Turkey's romantic socialists over the Greek "oxi" (no) vote and the subsequent developments in Greece. Does Greece have an incredible amount of debt? It does. Should it pay it? It should. Can it compare the situation with the post-war situation and the conditions Germany and the World War II victors "agreed" upon?

Most foreigners are irrate by the seemingly “messy” business hours and shop opening times from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekends. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays retail stores reopen again from 5 p.m. This causes some confusion to the uninitiated but, quite simply, everything shuts down for the midday siesta from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.