Heat

[JohnC6]

I've posted about this before but re UV exposure. and, as I recall, ancient-mariner explained the difference between UV exposure and temperatures. I. now take a thermometer with me on holiday.

Today, for about 20 minutes the sky was clear ..otherwise there was high level cirrus cloud, and my thermometer recorded 52C..that's 122F in old money in direct sunlight. Many sunbathers were not under sun brollies around the pool. Even when some high level cloud appeared the temperature only dropped to 47..116C.. I can't understand why they aren't ,basically, 'roasted'. There's one old timer,a regular here, who lies out in the sun from 9.30 to 4.30. each day and gets the towels onto the same sun loungers..one for him,one for his equally brown wife, at 8.00am when he can access the pool area. Each morning, he leads the half-dozen dedicated sunbathers out of the hotel ,at pace, to the pool loungers to 'get their spot'. Some call him 'Gandi"..some Mr. Brown..Mr Walnut etc... I don't know for sure,of course, but when I found a dead dragonfly near the pool today, not squashed..no damage. I suspected that the Calima dust and heat did for it.

It seems that the Calima is causing these unusually high temperatures. We stayed in our room after 1.00pm with the aircon on. So..why aren't these people suffering serious sunburn ?

 

[Mr Bump]

oh its frightening when i go to GC and wander down to the playa des englis area where there is a nice bar does a great pint of paulaner
i sometimes can't believe how many leather skinned lizards just sat in direct sunlight at 4pm

 

[Dale.]

I've never really understood the need for lying under strong sunlight to get a different colour skin, same with spray tans etc. That said, I do respect people have a choice, each to their own.

I do remember as a lad and into my teens, during the 70s and into the 80s, we often got long hot summers and it was normal to be outdoors with a t-shirt and shorts, often taking off the t-shirt and being out all day. I rarely burned though, just the odd occasion after a day riding my pushbike for example, or out in the garden with my dad and his rose patch. I remember that sting and horrible tightness to the skin and I think that has probably played a part in me not being a sun worshipper.

Now, having a young daughter, we are extra careful with her if she's going out for the day or even to school on a sunny day. All those years ago, I don't ever recall putting on suncream as a lad but only on a few occasions did I get sore.

I do like a nice day but not for lying in the sun.

Myself? ........... give me the shade any day and 20's plenty.

 

[Nod]

Factor 30, at least a beach brolly or similar and even then, I limit my time in it, even here in the UK! Need to start with the factor 30 now the Sun's started showing.

I would guess that the 50°C thermometer reading was skewed by the sensor being black plastic - mine is. Leaving a black object in full sunlight will show a fair few degrees above the actual air temperature.

 

[JohnC6]

Factor 30, at least a beach brolly or similar and even then, I limit my time in it, even here in the UK! Need to start with the factor 30 now the Sun's started showing.

I would guess that the 50°C thermometer reading was skewed by the sensor being black plastic - mine is. Leaving a black object in full sunlight will show a fair few degrees above the actual air temperature.

I'm open to the possibility of a skewed temperature due to the plastic thermometer. It's cream coloured,though..if that makes any difference. Beyond that I can feel the strong burning when I walk in the sun,so, either way, it's far too hot to be lying in. The chap I mentioned is from the UK. Skin like a leather hide..same with his wife. One or two others from the UK are very brown,too..but he tops them.

 

[lindsay]

When I was a kid living in Hong Kong, although the summer temperatures were only in the low 30's typically (humidity in the 90's), we spent a lot of time at beaches, because they were all around us. We rarely used sun cream, or if we did it was factor 5 or 8 or thereabouts. I don't think the high blocking factors existed in those days. I went a sort of olive colour! a friend though, who was blond, stayed in the sun all afternoon one time and gt sunstroke, was bright red almost all over, and was in agony for days even with calomine lotion frequently applied by his mum. We would all peel like mad in the early summer until re-acclimatised.

I recall being on holiday in Ibiza in the late 1970's, some continental girls were liberally applying olive oil to their skin. To fry quicker? I could never understand it, but my word they looked good on it.
It takes all sorts I guess.

 

[Nod]

I went a sort of olive colour!

I go more of a tomato colour if I get caught out. Factor 30 from the first sunny day of the year until a week after the last! The stuff I've found that works for me is Calypso factor 30 once-a-day. It's waterproof, so I can go snorkelling and (providing I don't rub myself dry after a fresh water shower on the beach) not need to reapply. In the mornings, I can walk into the closest town from the hotel (about an hour) and not worry about getting grilled.

 

[JohnC6]

I go more of a tomato colour if I get caught out. Factor 30 from the first sunny day of the year until a week after the last! The stuff I've found that works for me is Calypso factor 30 once-a-day. It's waterproof, so I can go snorkelling and (providing I don't rub myself dry after a fresh water shower on the beach) not need to reapply. In the mornings, I can walk into the closest town from the hotel (about an hour) and not worry about getting grilled.

I just do my best to keep out of direct sunlight. When I was 18 I went on holiday to Spain with a mate and we'd arranged to meet up with a couple of girls that evening. I fell asleep in the sun and my ankles were so swollen I was unable to get any footwear on. He went off to meet them on his own. I've never forgotten that and when on a sun lounger, which is only ever abroad,, I place a towel over my lower legs and my ankles.

 

[Dale.]

I recall being on holiday in Ibiza in the late 1970's, some continental girls were liberally applying olive oil to their skin. To fry quicker?

A bit like Ambre Solaire, the oil, factor 2, I think it was called 'bronze', could cook a steak on that stuff.

 

[JohnC6]

A bit like Ambre Solaire, the oil, factor 2, I think it was called 'bronze', could cook a steak on that stuff.

Do you think these people, like the individual I've mentioned, put on an oil that turns the skin brown rather than they go that colour just by exposing themselves to hours of direct sunlight using regular Factor 30. ? We have a Boots factor 30 regular sun cream as protection when we are out walking here.

 

[Dale.]

Do you think these people, like the individual I've mentioned, put on an oil that turns the skin brown rather than they go that colour just by exposing themselves to hours of direct sunlight using regular Factor 30. ? We have a Boots factor 30 regular sun cream as protection when we are out walking here.

I have no idea but maybe the inference is that oil would potentially, sizzle the skin.

Factor 2 I would think, would offer next to no protection. It's odd, as a few people I know that like to get tanned naturally, swear that they get a better tan with high factor creams.

 

[the black fox]

When I was a kid living in Hong Kong, although the summer temperatures were only in the low 30's typically (humidity in the 90's), we spent a lot of time at beaches, because they were all around us. We rarely used sun cream, or if we did it was factor 5 or 8 or thereabouts. I don't think the high blocking factors existed in those days. I went a sort of olive colour! a friend though, who was blond, stayed in the sun all afternoon one time and gt sunstroke, was bright red almost all over, and was in agony for days even with calomine lotion frequently applied by his mum. We would all peel like mad in the early summer until re-acclimatised.

I recall being on holiday in Ibiza in the late 1970's, some continental girls were liberally applying olive oil to their skin. To fry quicker? I could never understand it, but my word they looked good on it.
It takes all sorts I guess.

I’m one of the lucky ones I guess I have naturally oily skin and it doesn’t take much sun for me to tan .any sun oil works for me never worried about what factor they are . And yes in my teens olive oil was used and worked well

 

[JohnC6]

Still hot in the sun but strengthening winds. This pm staff went round all the sun loungers folding down the brollies and when people left the sun loungers the brollies were laid flat . After seeing a loungers blown into the pool they were all moved a few metres back..away from it. Very rough seas crashing in. Worse tomorrow they say. Makes a change but if there's any sun the dedicated will be out there in it.No whale/dolphin viewing boats out..infact, no boats/yachts out.

 

[TheFiend]

I've never really understood the need for lying under strong sunlight to get a different colour skin, same with spray tans etc. That said, I do respect people have a choice, each to their own.

Skin lightening creams are popular in some Asian countries!!!

My Thai wife, when she is in the UK, her skin lightens slightly due to comparably less sun than in Thailand....

 

[ancient_mariner]

In Sept '86 we had our first Greek holiday. I was in my 20s, used to being outside in shorts, and after the first week was down to factor 2: it was fine and not like frying or anything daft. Remeber with sun lotions etc the 'factor' is the multiplier for equivalent exposure, so factor 2 doubles the equivalent time in the sun, 10 multiplies that by 10 etc. I normally spend little time outside these days, so factor 15 is the strongest that I would usually use, but it is important to reapply because it can get rubbed away. But I'm also not given to sun loungers or 'tanning', and don't usually apply sun protection to arms or legs unless on a beach or boat where reflection increases the exposure.

 

[ancient_mariner]

I've never really understood the need for lying under strong sunlight to get a different colour skin, same with spray tans etc.

Multiple reasons. At one time, being pale was associated with leisure - those who were poor laboured in the sun and would be tanned/burned by the sun, while a mark of being wealthy would be living indoors. Then came the industrial revolution and suddenly lots of poor people also worked indoors and were 'pale & interesting'. Developing an even tan became a sign that people could afford to spend time relaxing in the sun, and fashion played its part too making the tan desirable. In addition - no stones thrown at anyone - while some have lovely skin when pale, many don't and just look pasty and blue-veined and would look much more attractive with a bit of colour in their skins.

The asian preference for a pale skin is likely to be related to the labouring/wealth thing, and also a desire to look European.

On the suntan/burn thing, I worked with a Goan woman for years, and after her first winter with me she spent a Saturday in the sun and got burned. It was a complete novelty to her, and initially she had no idea why her skin was tight, itchy and sore. Burning isn't unique to pale skins, and even a black skin will burn if it hasn't built up tolerance.

 

[JohnC6]

I've often thought this re racist people. They complain, all year round, about 'brown' people taking over the UK and save year round to go to Spanish/Italian but mainly Spanish destinations, for two weeks and lie in the sin so they go back home....er...brown..

 

[TheFiend]

The asian preference for a pale skin is likely to be related to the labouring/wealth thing, and also a desire to look European.

Yep, in Thailand dark skin is associated with be "Lo-So" (Low society) and lighter skin more "Hi-So" and more European looking... Plenty of Thai women also get rhinoplasty done to try and look more European....

 

[Tigger.ufo]

Currently in the Maldives for 2 weeks ...

Factor 50 for the first week and not actively sitting in the sun but have snorkelled in a long sleeved swim suit and shorts every day without managing to burn anything yet! Will probably use Factor 30 for the rest of the time as I have a reasonable amount of colour now.

O H used 30 for a couple of days and then onto 15 spending quite a lot of time in the sun and is a similar shade to the natives now!

 

[Nod]

As well as the Factor 30, I wear a sting suit when snorkelling. They're apparently to prevent jellyfish stings but also have a high SPF.

Enjoy the Maldives, Heather.

 

[JohnC6]

Currently in the Maldives for 2 weeks ...

Factor 50 for the first week and not actively sitting in the sun but have snorkelled in a long sleeved swim suit and shorts every day without managing to burn anything yet! Will probably use Factor 30 for the rest of the time as I have a reasonable amount of colour now.

O H used 30 for a couple of days and then onto 15 spending quite a lot of time in the sun and is a similar shade to the natives now!

Is it somewhere you could recommend ? Neither of us snorkle or engage in any such outdoor activities. We like quant, narrow streets with interesting shops, good fish cuisine and whale/dolphin boat trips. We don't sunbathe. We don't go in the sea. We use hotel pools. Adult-only hotels and preferably all inclusive.

Sorry..what was that ? Scarborough. ?

 

[JohnC6]

I'm posting this because it's unusual. We're in Los Gigantes which is on the south west coast of Tenerife..not far from Los Cristianos which many will be more familiar with.

Yesterday there was a 4.1 earthquake under the ocean between Tenerife (east coast)and Gran Canaria.

Canary Islands tremor felt across two islands

Residents across Tenerife and Gran Canaria reported shaking after a strong earthquake struck between the islands, widely felt but causing no major damage.

euroweeklynews.com

For two days we've had another Saharan dust storm event so it's dull/misty in the morning, the sky is beige. Due to a phenomena called a DANA we have strong winds. Both hotel pools are closed . All sun brollies have ben laid on the loungers to stop them blowing around. One went into the pool yesterday..it was closed..and had there been swimmers in there it might have caused someone a nasty injury. Every now and then strong wind gusts blow through. There's a 20% chance of a thunderstorm. There haven't been any boat trips out from the harbour nor yachts sailing by for two days. The boat trips are mainly the whale/dolphin ones so it's costing the owners a fair bit being confined to the harbour.

Weather warning from yesterday.

Canarian Weekly - Yellow and orange weather warnings for a DANA storm system coming to the Canary Islands

It is described as a “cocktail of adverse weather” with muddy rain, strong winds, large waves, haze, and even snow forecast as follows…

www.canarianweekly.com

"Heavy showers, strong winds, calima (Saharan dust), rough seas and even possible snowfall are all on the cards in what officials have described snowfall as a “meteorological cocktail”. I imagine the snow aspect is on very high ground..eg Mount Teide,further north.


A DANA

https://en.meteorologiaenred.com/berth.html

 

[ancient_mariner]

I'm posting this because it's unusual. We're in Los Gigantes which is on the south west coast of Tenerife..not far from Los Cristianos which many will be more familiar with.

Yesterday there was a 4.1 earthquake under the ocean between Tenerife (east coast)and Gran Canaria.

Canary Islands tremor felt across two islands

Residents across Tenerife and Gran Canaria reported shaking after a strong earthquake struck between the islands, widely felt but causing no major damage.

euroweeklynews.com

For two days we've had another Saharan dust storm event so it's dull/misty in the morning, the sky is beige. Due to a phenomena called a DANA we have strong winds. Both hotel pools are closed . All sun brollies have ben laid on the loungers to stop them blowing around. One went into the pool yesterday..it was closed..and had there been swimmers in there it might have caused someone a nasty injury. Every now and then strong wind gusts blow through. There's a 20% chance of a thunderstorm. There haven't been any boat trips out from the harbour nor yachts sailing by for two days. The boat trips are mainly the whale/dolphin ones so it's costing the owners a fair bit being confined to the harbour.

Weather warning from yesterday.

Canarian Weekly - Yellow and orange weather warnings for a DANA storm system coming to the Canary Islands

It is described as a “cocktail of adverse weather” with muddy rain, strong winds, large waves, haze, and even snow forecast as follows…

www.canarianweekly.com

"Heavy showers, strong winds, calima (Saharan dust), rough seas and even possible snowfall are all on the cards in what officials have described snowfall as a “meteorological cocktail”. I imagine the snow aspect is on very high ground..eg Mount Teide,further north.


A DANA

https://en.meteorologiaenred.com/berth.html

That sounds a bit miserable when you're on holiday - hope it clears up for you.

 

[Tigger.ufo]

Is it somewhere you could recommend ? Neither of us snorkle or engage in any such outdoor activities. We like quant, narrow streets with interesting shops, good fish cuisine and whale/dolphin boat trips. We don't sunbathe. We don't go in the sea. We use hotel pools. Adult-only hotels and preferably all inclusive.

Sorry..what was that ? Scarborough. ?

I wouldn't recommend it to you ... for me it is pretty much perfect!

 

[Nod]

Is it somewhere you could recommend ? Neither of us snorkle or engage in any such outdoor activities. We like quant, narrow streets with interesting shops, good fish cuisine and whale/dolphin boat trips. We don't sunbathe. We don't go in the sea. We use hotel pools. Adult-only hotels and preferably all inclusive.

Sorry..what was that ? Scarborough. ?

I was going to say Whitby but Scarborough would probably be as good. Lynton and Lynmouth would do too.

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

We like quant, narrow streets...

Your misprint reminds me of the catchphrase "Quant Sufficient" in Alfred Bester's SciFi classic "Tiger! Tiger!" (published in the US as "The Stars My Destination")

It put a smile on my face.

 

[Dale.]

Well, we woke up to about 2cm of snow this morning, welcome to mid March.