Heading towards Catalunya Ràdio downstairs, from Ferrocarrils, through the alleyways, narrower than those in L'Eixample, which cross Muntaner street. Walking on the sidewalk, a gust of hot air propels itself towards my legs. And another. And another. At first, I don't understand. It seems like a sauna, one of those gym ones, when it starts up. Then, yes. It's the outlets of the air conditioners from the apartment buildings and shops, devices I imagine as furious dragons. The street I'm walking on, due to the thermal comfort of the interiors – comfort I envy and applaud – is like a boiling pot. All this heat that the roaring dragons spew must heat the street temperature by a degree or two. The other day, in ARA, they said that the heat is localized by neighborhood and that poorer neighborhoods suffer more from it, due to narrowness, ventilation... But they didn't take into account that in rich neighborhoods with many clothing stores there are air conditioners, and if there are air conditioners indoors, there is more heat outdoors, because we've reached the Moon, but we haven't devised a good system for expelling hot air. And so, the paradox arises that the more climate change, the more air conditioners we need, and the more air conditioners we need, the more climate change, and the more climate change...
The other day, in ARA, they said that the heat is localized by neighborhood and that poorer neighborhoods suffer more from it, due to narrowness, ventilation... But they didn't take into account that in rich neighborhoods with many clothing stores there are air conditioners, and if there are air conditioners indoors, there is more heat outdoors, because we've reached the Moon, but we haven't devised a good system for expelling hot air. And so, the paradox arises that the more climate change, the more air conditioners we need, and the more air conditioners we need, the more climate change, and the more climate change…
I was reluctant to have air conditioning, but it can't be that because I don't have it, I'm becoming more fond of the cinema, bank offices, and shopping malls. If I have one, I'll install it. I'll ask to put that jug to pour water into and I too will heat, with concreteness and consciousness, the planet. Soon, the Mediterranean diet – this illusion we've invented to avoid talking about Catalan cuisine – will be a tropical diet.
