"Pack your swimming trunks ..." - no, we don't want to bore you with old camels, although the latest fashions, colorful Bermuda shorts and colorful bikini are definitely worth talking about. But you certainly don't forget swimwear and beachwear when it comes to packing your suitcase for your vacation in the subtropical summer. The flight times to the Mediterranean coast or even to the South Seas are shorter than usually a train journey to the Baltic Sea beach thanks to the fast flight connections; you literally jump from one climatic zone to the other.
Summer climate of the south
This means a certain adjustment for our organism, other living habits arise, for which there are some important basic rules and instructions. There should be a place for this even in the overcrowded suitcase.
The climate of the subtropics, to whose northern region the Mediterranean countries also belong, are dominated by pronounced high pressure areas, especially during summer, which penetrate further north with the seasonal shift of the wind belt. In our travel season there is a predominantly dry and cloudless climate with intense solar radiation, which you encounter in the direction of the equator all year round.
Sun protection & sunglasses
This subtropical summer is unusual for us northerners and easily tempts to indulgent holiday enjoyment. Therefore the first way on the beach of Mallorca, on the coasts of Fuerteventura or on the palm promenade of Ibiza should lead to one of those dealers who offer very nice woven hats for little money. They are anything but a fashionable attribute or a souvenir to be bought later, but an often underestimated necessity of life.
However, this head protection must be designed in such a way that the eyes and neck are shaded. Otherwise the so often mockingly quoted sunstroke is not that far off. Even if an overdose of the sun does not always lead to immediate health damage, at least the ability to experience and thus the recreational value of the vacation is greatly reduced.
The most important experience of a trip to the south is not even the air temperature, but the brightness of the diffuse sky light, which needs to be taken into account when filming and taking photos.Of course there is a good exposure meter in the case next to the camera, and photo enthusiasts have given the tip to close the aperture one or two values further than the meter shows. But are you just as careful with your own eyes?
Everyone is blinded, but especially the bright-eyed. Sunglasses must belong in every luggage, not just any, but one recommended by an optician with coated lenses. Yes, you should even have a formal cult with sunglasses, less because of the many interesting shapes, but more with lenses of different strengths and weaknesses that absorb sunlight.
Tan & sunbathing
There are hardly any restrictions for bathing. On the contrary, swim vigorously and otherwise, do not skip any sporting activity, not on a full stomach, but otherwise extensively. However, it is a bad habit with serious consequences to dry the wet swimsuit - no matter how shapely - on the body. The cold from evaporation quickly leads to hypothermia and thus promotes intestinal disorders. So dry off quickly, also removing the unusually strong sea salt, and dress lightly, for which there are also attractive variants.
If there is an opportunity, otherwise later in the hotel, a freshwater shower is recommended because remaining salt particles, mixed with sweat, sometimes cause skin irritation. It is important to warn against excessive sunbathing in and of itself, twice in the subtropics. A healthy tan and real relaxation can only be achieved by those who only slowly get used to the southern sun, start with just a few minutes and only increase it a little. Braising lazily in the sun makes you tired. You even fall asleep and then run around powdered red like a winged canary - unless serious damage to health occurs.
The vacation is definitely spoiled. Movement on the beach is far better, air bathing in the partial shade instead of on the "sun grill", which you will soon notice in your own wellbeing. The evening cool is particularly relaxing. This refreshment can be increased. Stone and concrete floors, house walls, in short, all buildings have stored heat during the day and radiate it like a huge oven. An evening stroll through the boulevard, seeing and being seen, should take place more on the green central promenade or in the parks.
Food & nutrition in the south
Those who indulge in subtropical holiday joys in such a free and informal yet a little cautious way have gained a lot, with nutrition you can do even more well. First of all, it should be emphasized that the meals in the holiday centers of the Mediterranean countries are subject to almost as strict hygiene monitoring as in ours. Luculi's servants there are also largely adapting to the usual fare of their guests. Occasional nutritional disorders can therefore hardly be attributed to something wrong with the food; rather, a simple change in diet with simultaneous overcrowding of the digestive organs is very often the cause.
Many holidaymakers believe that the abundant delights from kitchens and cellars should also be fully enjoyed in quantitative terms. A big mistake! It is one of our German peculiarities not to let anything go to waste. But it is not for nothing that a saying goes: different countries - different customs. So what is presented in abundance to us with gracious hospitality is only to be understood as an offer for the eyes and the palate. You should taste and eat it according to your needs and your appetite, but by no means devour everything - by the way, a hopeless "competition" in which German tourists have never been the winners.
We instinctively eat less fat in summer. That is correct and by no means impolite if you happen to leave fatty meat on the plate. Seasoning - also with salt - should be more than at home. There is a good reason for this. An increased release of water through the skin, i.e. sweating, causes the salt level in the body to drop so that more salt does not damage it, but creates a physiological balance. Daily consumption of yogurt or kefir stimulates digestion and protects against intestinal infections. Lots of fruit are recommended, but spread over the whole day and not in kilos as a snack or "cure" that you are proud of.
Thirst & drinking in the south
The unfamiliar heat brings thirst. It would be completely wrong to formulate the principle of taking in as little fluid as possible with great willpower so that one does not sweat so much. But that is precisely the natural cooling of our body. The constant loss of water through the skin must be replaced. On the other hand, this does not mean drinking constantly, but three to four times a day in slow, enjoyable gulps. The opinion is also widespread: hot days - hot drinks. Indeed, this can be beneficial as long as hot teas are not overly sugary. Fresh water from the central water supply in the subtropics is not always hygienic. You should either boil the water or just drink mineral water from the supermarket. You should also be careful not to use well water.
As with us, it usually contains bacteria, but is interspersed with bacteria that are not found in our familiar environment and can easily lead to digestive disorders. The warmer it is, the more potent alcohol is. For example, if you have a glass or two of beer at lunchtime, you can get tired, sluggish and incapable of experiencing for the rest of the day. Of course, there is nothing wrong with a glass of dry red wine, which is preferable to all other alcoholic drinks, on a refreshing evening.
Venomous snakes, spiders & scorpions in the south
There was recently a report in the press that made tourists to Turkey sit up and take notice: Before bulldozers leveled the area for the construction of modern seaside resorts on the Mediterranean beach, deceiving porcupines had been exposed as voracious snake enemies to clean the area. There are poisonous snakes both near the lake and in the mountains throughout the Mediterranean. They are not very common, but they are more common than on Hiddensee or Sylt.
However, it is known that a snake attack on humans belongs in the realm of fable. Such vipers use their fangs to kill or paralyze prey. Man is certainly not part of their diet. Even the low "intelligence" of these animals can still be trusted to distinguish this. Therefore, the snake will only use its weapons, the danger of which should by no means be trivialized, when it feels attacked.
So the rule for travel areas in which the occurrence of poisonous snakes is known does not apply if you have not at least briefly oriented yourself about this place. Any snakes in the neighborhood will flee on their own when people are exposed to the weather. They love the warmth very much. When the sun has set, snakes like to crawl on paths, on or on stones that give off heat. So if you like to roam through botany in the dark, you should better light your way with a flashlight. Overall, the risk is low. Nervousness is by no means appropriate.
Scorpions and poison spiders are even rarer. These can hardly be dangerous to adults, but they can be dangerous to children. For this reason and also because of the cuts that can easily lead to infections due to human lack of understanding, it is always advisable to wear shoes outside of the beach.
In the subtropical areas we have traveled to, the general and very intensive fly and mosquito control has had satisfactory results. Nevertheless, it can be useful to pack an insecticide in the spray bottle in the suitcase. Because mosquitoes or flies can be a real nuisance everywhere and rob you of your night's sleep.
In southern and southeastern Europe, the tropical infectious diseases that were originally widespread there, such as malaria, amoebic dysentery and others, have been practically completely eliminated, so that you can start your vacation without worrying, but not without worry. This also means that we put the health insurance papers in the wallet in addition to the travel documents.
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