When Travelling, the Gray Days are Sometimes the Best Ones
Embracing the rainy, cloudy skies of Portugal in November
I’ve have spent just over a month in Portugal now and the one thing it has taught me more than anything is to embrace rain. It wasn’t necessarily a choice, as it has rained pretty much every single day. However, I am no longer upset about that.
Some of my most fun memories of Portugal are because of the rain. My friend and I walking determinedly through the streets of Porto completely soaked. Slipping down the hills that the city is built on and cry laughing because of it. Buying a 5 Euro massive rain poncho that screams tourist and loving it.
Before I came here, I was not aware that Porto is one of the rainiest cities in Southern Europe — especially from October onward. But that’s okay! I think sometimes when travelling, it’s better when not everything turns out perfect.
These imperfections while travelling teach me to adapt, to find happiness outside of the obvious, to embrace those around me.
I came here to surf, but surfing has been off the cards for two weeks now due to storms. So, we’ve found other ways to enjoy our time. From tiny concerts in Porto’s rooftop venues to the Porto Legends light show to many, many cute cafes — the past weeks have been a blast.
Sometimes when the sky turns gray and everything seems a little more dull, you have to find your own colour. Your own happiness. It’s been easier here as I have friends around me, other girls volunteering at the surf camp I am at. They have brought immense colour to these gray days.
I will always remember my time in Portugal as rainy and gray, but those memories are some of my most “colourful” of the year. Happiness seeps out of every corner of these memories, as well as the immense peace the slow lifestyle here has brought me.
If Portugal has caught your eye and your considering making it your home, check out Jean Elizabeth Glass’ guide on moving:
To go beyond Porto, read Diana Bernardo’s guide on some other cities to visit (Aveiro is one of my favourites, it’s so beautiful):