Man, what can I say, even the weather ain't what it used to be! Saturday, June 6, it wrecked us with torrential downpours, walnut-sized hail, and storms that'll scare the devil out of you. But wait, it's not just our problem - in Czechia, bro, it's even worse! They've had the driest spring since 1961, and their Saaz hops, the ones without which there's no pilsner beer, are on their last legs. No joke, if those guys at the Hop Research Institute hadn't found new varieties - Saaz Shine, Saaz Comfort, and others - we'd be left without that fine beer. Dr. Vladimir Nesvadba, the head of breeding, says 'I see a very bright future for Czech hops.' Well, good for them, but we care about what we drink, right? Now amateur brewers are testing the new varieties, they even made a lager with Saaz Shine at a pub in Prague, and people flocked. So, if you're passing through, know that the beer flows well.
Now, let's get to us, 'cause that's why you're here. Friday, June 6, the weather goes nuts across the country. In Dobrogea and Bărăgan, morning sun, but afternoon clouds roll in and rain hits you fast, no time to run to the store for a beer. Highs hit 30 degrees - meaning you fry, then you soak. In southern Moldova and northern Muntenia, rains come in the afternoon, but in northern Moldova and Bucovina, bro, it's war: torrential downpours with severe phenomena, you stay indoors and pray. In northern Transylvania and Maramureș, large amounts of water accumulate in minutes - think ground-floor apartments, water seeps in. And in Transylvania, after lunch, multiple rounds of rain, with hail and storms, and 30 liters per square meter pile up. In Oltenia and the south, it's milder: 29-30 degrees, but still with rain. In Bucharest, afternoon and night, showers with thunder and lightning - Mioara will call me not to take the BMW out, 'cause the elevator breaks and then the car won't start.
And that's not all! For July, meteorologists from EaseWeather say in Calafat it'll be 40 degrees on the 17th, 20th, and 22nd. Calafat also holds the record of 44.3 degrees - like you're in an oven. And only two rainy days, on July 2 and 5. So get ready for the heatwave, bro, 'cause my BMW with the broken AC will melt on the streets.
Now, let's not forget that in Budapest, at the Stihl Timbersports World Trophy, the cold summer rain made competitors struggle. New Zealander Mathew Gower, 23, won the first day in the rookie category, but only 6 out of 12 finished the events - the rest probably drowned. Sunday is the first Women's World Championship, and in the individual event, New Zealander Jack Jordan, the champion, wants his fourth title. So they're fighting with axes, while we get soaked.
But it's not all bad! In Cluj-Napoca, Mayor Emil Boc announced the placement of the first little houses for community cats - free for homeowners' associations. 50 houses, with 13 applications already approved. Boc said: 'A city that is friendlier to animals is also a city friendlier to people.' Listen, man, if in our Berceni neighborhood the city hall put up some houses, old man Gheorghe's tomcats wouldn't be hanging in the parking lot. Brian would be happy, 'cause he wants a cat, but Mioara says we're doing gardening in the countryside.
So, bro, if you have barbecue plans for Saturday, better stay home and drink a beer - but I don't know if you'll get it, 'cause Czech beer might get more expensive. Who pays? Us, the suckers, between hail and heatwave!
