Making the Most of a Rainy Day in Italy

PART 131: It might be interesting to share how we pulled off living in Italy for part of the year. I will post some steps and what we are learning along the way.

We love every minute of it, and what was once a dream is our life!

We live in Tuscany in the Fall, then back again in the Spring, and in California for the rest of the time (in a previous blog, I explained why we live in Italy only part of the year).

Let's explore how we are finding ways to prevent rain from ruining our day at home in Tuscany, Italy.

Step 1: As we explore areas in Italy, we discover some gems worth sharing. Some are well-known tourist magnets, and others are lesser known but always amazing.

This week, instead of exploring a location or discussing home renovation experiences, let's focus on daily life in Italy.

Does rain have to ruin our day?

Step 2: When we flew to Italy to take possession of our house in Tuscany, we did not expect to encounter day after day of rain. We had researched the weather patterns in the Monte Amiata area before making our plans, but this winter turned out to be unusually wet. After a few weeks of spending rainy days inside our house or running errands for renovations, we decided to make the best of the situation and turn these gloomy days into a more positive experience.

Step 3: Mindset change

We didn't travel all the way to Italy to complain about the rainy weather. After experiencing many rainy days during the first few weeks after we took possession of our house, and complaining about the weather all the time, we realized we needed to change our mindset.

We asked ourselves, "What enjoyable activities do we often overlook when the weather is nice?"

Step 4: Extended daily activities

We first asked ourselves what daily activities we could slow down and enjoy more on a rainy day.

Our morning routines are pretty consistent: we start with daily training at the gym, followed by coffee at our favorite local café (https://www.dabegname.it/).

One morning at our local gym, my partner asked me, "It's raining today; why are we rushing through our workout?" He made a valid point. On clear days, we usually have field trips planned or errands to run, so we push through our training, but rainy days free us from the pressure to be somewhere at a specific time.

As a result, we've turned rainy days into opportunities for a longer gym workout. This allows us to focus more, incorporate extra cardio, and complete additional sets.

We love our local café and visit it every day. The staff is friendly and knows us as the "Californiani." We usually grab a coffee, sometimes a pastry, and then start our day. On rainy days, we started to linger longer, often having a second cup of coffee and enjoying each other's company while people-watching - more than we do on sunny days.

Step 5: Special meals

We usually cook at home or get take-out from a fantastic local tavola calda in our area. We rarely go to sit-down restaurants unless we have guests visiting. I suppose we're homebodies who enjoy having our meals in our wood-beamed kitchen in Arcidosso, Tuscany.

However, rainy days feel special, so we've started dining at our favorite café in Santa Fiora for lunch and savoring the experience.

Step 6: Exploring home improvement stores

Some people love clothing stores, while others prefer browsing shoe stores or gourmet food shops. My partner and I really enjoy visiting home improvement stores to explore what's available and gather renovation ideas.

On numerous rainy days, we've driven to Tecnomat (similar to our Home Depot) to look at tiles, shower setups, vanities, and spiral staircases. We also visit Ikea to check out their model rooms. There is also a very cool iron shop in Pienza that we love. Even if we only buy a lightbulb or a few placemats, browsing through a home improvement store or an independent craft shop without a specific agenda has become one of our favorite activities on rainy days.

Local independent stores, whether selling tile or ironworks, are some of our favorite rainy day haunts.

Step 7: Museums

I absolutely love visiting museums! The Uffizi Gallery in Florence always calls to me, especially on rainy days. However, since it's a two-hour drive away, we haven't had the chance to visit it on a rainy day yet.

Closer to home, we have our own castle in Arcidosso (https://www.visittuscany.com/en/attractions/aldobrandesco-castle-of-arcidosso/) and the beautiful Abbey of Sant'Antimo, both of which we've enjoyed as options on those rainy days.

Step 8: Reading or watching a movie

On rainy days, after hitting the gym and enjoying breakfast, we sometimes prefer to stay at home. A warm cup of tea and a good book or movie allow us to escape the outside world and appreciate the cozy home we've been working hard to create.

Step 9: In the comments, please leave your favorite rainy-day activities when you are in Italy.

Insights: Changing our mindset was the first step in viewing rainy days in Italy as opportunities rather than setbacks. Once we reflected on activities we enjoy that don't depend on perfect weather, we discovered various enjoyable things to do that we might otherwise overlook.

More next time.

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