Like anyone I hope for the best weather when I travel. At times my wish is answered and we will have sunny skies and temperate climate the entire time. However that is the exception. Rain happens. When it does there are two options; stay inside until it passes or get out and embrace your destination in spite of it. If you only have a day or two you cannot afford to skip even a part of it, so be prepared.
When you travel in shoulder season there is more of a chance that you will encounter inclement weather. We always have our rain jackets with us; they double for warmth and wind protection. If you forget an umbrella don’t fret as within seconds of the first drops they will be available, along with rain ponchos, from every vendor and store front no matter what city you are in. Have a second pair of walking shoes in case one gets so wet they will need a day or two to dry.
We are not fair weather travelers, but we can wear ourselves out. After long days and exciting destinations to explore we found ourselves in need of a recharge. The three straight days of rain while in Florence was that opportunity. We indulged the first morning and stayed in bed late. One of the benefits of an apartment was the chance to enjoy a leisurely breakfast, get caught up on domestic chores and the mundane tasks of answering emails, and bringing my journal up to date. Once relaxed I was eager to go again despite the rain. I didn’t want to waste another minute. It was Florence after all.
Even during a downpour, we and all the other hardy travelers converged on the street of Florence to continue our
day. If you find yourself in the same predicament, here are some suggestions of what you could do.
- Head to the Central Market and shop for ingredients to make a bed picnic.
- Shop for souvenirs and leather at the San Lorenzo Market.
- Explore inside the Duomo or spend the afternoon browsing through the Uffizi Gallery.
- Get on a public bus or tram and use it as round trip transportation to explore other parts of the city.
- Take some interesting and artistic photos of the city in the rain.
- Crowd into a cafe and order cappuccino with the locals and other tourists.
- Eat pizza inside a traditional restaurant for lunch.
- Spend the afternoon with a good book that you found in the local bookstore or street market the day before.
- Cook your favourite pasta dish in your apartment and serve it with a bottle of wine and fresh bread.
- Open that second bottle of wine!
You can let rain or other inclement weather ruin your vacation or you can turn it into a different one. Either way embrace and enjoy.