By Andrea Farmer, Co-Founder and COO
It was raining in Kotor, Montenegro, and I had a very good argument for staying behind to enjoy all the amenities the beautiful Viking Saturn had to offer.
We had an excursion booked, but the weather wasn’t cooperating, and the thought of spending the day damp felt like reason enough to skip it. I went back and forth right up until the last minute. Then I grabbed my things and joined my husband, who had already decided to go.
It was definitely rainy. I won’t pretend otherwise. But as the day went on, I stopped thinking so much about the weather and started thinking about where I was. No one I knew had ever been there. When it can feel like every view in the world has already been posted, that felt pretty special.
Then came the moment that defined the day.
We were high above the Bay of Kotor, surrounded by fog, with hardly anything to see beyond the gray. And then, for a moment, it lifted.
There, far below us in the bay, was our ship, tucked between the mountains. It was a view worth waiting for. On a clear day, I’m sure the view would have been lovely. Because we had to wait for it, and because it could disappear again at any second, it felt like a gift we’d been given.
Right around the time our tour ended, the weather cleared, and the sun came out. We still had a few hours left at the port and were able to enjoy a glass of wine in an outdoor plaza next to the Cathedral of Saint Tryphon in Kotor’s Old Town before heading back to the ship. Not a bad way to end the day!
Our final stop in Montenegro, when the weather cleared and the sky was a perfect blue. This is the Cathedral of Saint Tryphon in Kotor’s Old Town, first consecrated in 1166 and just a short walk from where the ship docked.
What a rainy port day taught me
Ask before you cancel. If your excursion is still running and it’s safe to go, find out what the day will actually look like in the rain. Your guide or travel advisor can tell you whether it’s worth braving.
Pack as if the forecast might be right. A light rain jacket and shoes with good grip can be the difference between a miserable day and a memorable one.
Keep your camera close. Weather can change quickly, especially at higher elevations. Our view came and went in a moment.
Let go of the postcard. The day you pictured and the day you get may look very different. Sometimes the second one makes the better story.
I almost traded that moment for a dry afternoon, and I’m so glad I didn’t. The next time it’s raining in port, go anyway. You never know what’s behind the fog.