Two young boys gleefully enjoy the fine weather at a beach near the Cretan port of Iraklion yesterday. Thousands of citizens across the country packed beaches and open-air cafes over the weekend as temperatures reached unseasonable highs of 28C (82F). The coastal suburbs of Athens were unusually busy as city dwellers took advantage of the sudden hot spell to enjoy some seaside action before winter sets in. In other countries, the first days of November saw quite different conditions. In France, torrential rains forced the evacuation of hundreds of homes and cut off two major highways. Italy was also hit by heavy showers.