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How do you deal with a rainy day? What if you want to go out, anywhere, yet multiple weather apps warn of a 100% chance of rain for most of the day in half the country (or region, if you’re one of those who lives in a very large country)?
I can’t stay indoors. I truly dislike being at home. In fact, I’m neither a landlord nor a tenant, so I don’t technically have my own home, which may explain why I’m not the type to enjoy staying in. Even if I had a cozy place, I believe I would still prefer being outside. There’s so much more to explore—I can visit new places, meet people, and immerse myself in different experiences.
To answer my original question, I still head out when it’s rainy. In my area, most people do the same. Whether it’s drizzling, showering, or pouring, life carries on as usual in Nantes. When I first moved to Ottawa, I was taken aback by how Canadians react to regular rain as though it were deadly acid—you would think they were on the verge of melting, judging by the horrified expressions when it gets damp. Some even forget their basic driving skills, speeding and making reckless decisions, as if they were dashing through a flooded street instead of being safely inside their cars. Yet, sending kids outside to play when it’s -25 °C seems perfectly acceptable. Go figure.
That said, Canada does face some severe weather conditions. Perhaps I wouldn’t have been caught outside during a tornado and then a derecho a few years later if I had the Canadian wisdom to stay in during “just rain”…
In Brittany, as in many parts of France, rain is simply part of life. We all come equipped to handle it. It’s not uncommon to see people enjoying drinks or meals outside, even when it’s raining—“on va pas fondre” (we’re not going to melt) is a common saying (though an abundance of alcohol likely boosts the courage).
Anyway, we knew it would rain the day after a beautiful sunny outing at Les Sables. Nantes? Rain. Angers? Rain. The coast? Yep, rain. It was even predicted to rain all day in Le Mans, which is quite far from Nantes (or not so distant if you think in terms of a large country).
We decided it was better to get soaked elsewhere than in Nantes. We chose Le Mans as our rainy-day destination primarily because we discovered the museums are free (kudos to Le Mans for this initiative, voted in 2021).
And it was indeed raining. I got wet walking to the train station. However, upon arriving in Le Mans 90 minutes later, it was merely dark and stormy. Then the rain began, prompting us to seek refuge in a welcoming bar-tabac for coffee. The rain paused just long enough for us to walk to the Jean-Claude-Boulard-Carré Plantagenêt Museum of Archaeology, where we immersed ourselves in the history of Ancient Rome. Afterward, we sheltered in the cathedral while waiting for the downpour to ease, then went on to explore the city center.
We got a bit damp, but it was totally worth it. I just wish I had taken more photos, but I learned my lesson—my DSLR isn’t a fan of rainy days.
But I kind of am.
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