2003 was, indeed, exceptional. OTOH, it is hardly exceptional that everyone who can leave the city in August, does. This is no doubt because it is just so damn pleasant they can't stand it, right?
They now build a true beach on the Seine river - right in the core of Paris - during the month of August which makes the stay fun. Usually the weather changes by August 15th to much more acceptable. Business starts back on the last week of August.
The real danger in Paris is to bump into me :-) Another problem is obviously the hotels rates in the summer season. Anyway for decades I use the month of August for new software development, because the waether is usually nice when staying home and there is nobody around, only Americans and Japanese, and now Chinese. They probably survive/enjoy it, since they keep coming.
jfc
_______________________________________________ Ietf@xxxxxxxx https://www1.ietf.org/mailman/listinfo/ietf