Cher Nelson Ascher,
Are you Nelson Ascher the Brazilian poet?
Are you the Nelson Ascher who asked a few questions to anti-war poets last February? ([url=http://www.porphyrogenitus.net/archives/week_2003_02_09.html#000031]http://www.porphyrogenitus.net/archives/week_2003_02_09.html#000031[/url])
Are you going to make me a pleased and honored (frog)man by the presence of such an esteemed guest in my humble dacha, by answering "yes" to the previous questions?
Thank you for taking the time to share you story. I shall certainly confirm your own experience of the French summer - and your expertise as far as heat is concerned.
On the lift issue, you're right in pointing at what can be - at least partially - an aggravating factor.
That said, among the three hospitals I know, two are recent and do have (working) lifts although I guess we could use more of them But it probably depends on the time of the day.
The third is some old XIXth century building with lifts that were grafted probably somewhere around 1970. They apparently work... Sometimes.
Can't talk for the others hospitals, I'm afraid.
As for other private or public buildings, it's certainly very variable.
But there are indeed people living on top of 5 or 6 story buildings without lifts.
Starting with an uncle and aunt of mines.