Back to normal in Spain: what I learned from a summer where even the nights hit 30 degrees

Some summers stay with you because of beautiful memories. This one will stay with me because my bedroom could have officially qualified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site — warmest place in which a human has ever attempted to sleep.

Even the olive tree in my garden looked defeated. At night, the temperature refused to drop below 30 degrees, and by day, the sun seemed determined to personally test my finca for fire resistance. It was a summer where the line between ‘living in Spain’ and ‘surviving in Spain’ grew noticeably thin. But now, at last, we’re slowly easing back to normal in Spain.

The theory of March vs. the reality of August

Back in March, I wrote a piece about how to stop your house from turning into an oven — shutters closed early, airing at the right times, creating shade wherever possible. All solid in theory, and to be fair, much of it held up. But the reality of this summer showed that some strategies only really work when the thermometer doesn’t insist on hovering above 30 degrees all night long.

Closing the shutters early, for example — absolutely worth it, as long as you do it before 9 a.m. Sleep in once and you’ll feel the difference immediately — the walls trap the heat like an oven that’s just been turned off, but is nowhere near cool. Fans in front of the windows helped pull in a bit of air at night, though “cool” was a very generous word this year. And avoiding indoor cooking? That became pure necessity. The barbecue saw more action than the rest of the year combined, and on the hottest days, dinner was reduced to cold tapas and a bottle of water pressed to my neck like a makeshift air conditioner.

Air conditioning is not a magic fix

My belief that air conditioning isn’t sacred only gained more proof this summer. Of course, there were moments when I pressed the button and gratefully welcomed that first wave of cool air. But the effect is temporary — and if you use it the wrong way, you pay the price. Literally. The neighbours set theirs to Arctic mode and ended up walking around in jumpers indoors. Their energy bill will probably be unforgettable.

What worked better was using the air con briefly and strategically — just enough to break the heat, then keeping the space cool with fans and closed shutters. It takes a bit of discipline, but comes with a lot less guilt when the electricity bill arrives.

Looking ahead while it’s still summer

The beauty of late summer is that you’re still in the warmth, yet already able to think about what’s next. I use these weeks to look at what could be improved. Maybe a few strategic changes in the garden — like adding a pergola or training grapevines to shade the west side of the house. Indoors, I’m considering ceiling fans in the bedrooms — quieter, more energy-efficient, and less harsh than air conditioning.

And then there’s the lesson in timing: don’t plan major jobs in July or August. This summer taught me that the hard way, when a handyman thought it would be a great idea to open up the roof — right in the middle of a heatwave. Let’s just say I now have a very different definition of “indoor climate.”

Heatwaves in Spain aren’t going anywhere. But this summer taught me that preparation — and smart use of what you already have — makes all the difference. And that the olive tree in my garden, however weary it looked, is still one of my best allies in the fight against the heat.

Almost September. In Spain, we’re slowly going back to normal. Volver a la normalidad.