Summer Places – Smoke break

Starting a series of photos of those summer places I have drifted in France over the thirty years I have lived here – Places you might want to be or not to be. First off let’s head down to south western French city of Toulouse – hotter than hell in summertime. Locals head for the coast, just over an hour away – and those who stay home scuttle into vast, air-conditioned local shopping malls.

This photo, taken at a shopping mall in Le Portet sur Garonne, in the suburbs of Toulouse. All No smoking areas, so you have to brave the 40°c outside temperature if you want a cigarette. Here is a fast food waitress her early evening hot smoking break.A moment of calm before heading back to screaming kids and the smell of grease.

Second photo – a Rolling Stone lady has a smoke on the parking before hitting the road. I would like to know this lady’s story. She’s not having an easy time by the looks of things.