Monsoon rains here, heat wave in the US East Coast

While the monsoon rains were beating down here last week, I was in the US East Coast experiencing a heat wave at my annual visit with my two sisters in the Boston area. Temperatures were in the mid-90s, with a heat index that was much higher. One sister fretted about her lawn, a disaster area due to water restrictions. Meanwhile, the weatherman kept referring to chances of rain that did not materialize. That was until the day before I left when a morning drenching occurred to cool off everyone.

In New York City, the heat emanated from the asphalt streets, the concrete buildings and the subway (hot air rises up). It was a survival trick to duck into museums and other cooled buildings. We first went to The Cloisters at the northern tip of Manhattan overlooking the Hudson River, a scenic view indeed, but only for a fleeting glimpse as the temperature was uncomfortably high and the humidity too. Indoors was best.