14 October 2017 – That’s millimetres. Of rainfall. Setting a new day-record for Vancouver, drowning the old one by an additional 7.2 mm.
My phone’s weather app promises mere “Showers,” as I set out to join friends for a noon-time tap dance extravaganza. “Pfui,” says I (acclimatizing fast to my new environment), “what’s a few showers?”
And it is still only showers, as I pass the Tandem Bike Café, admiring this bike’s weather-wise accessory.
An hour later, we are in monsoon-land.
Leaves block sewer gratings, rivers course down the streets, cars shoot rooster plumes into the air as they aqua-plane through intersections.
In the theatre lobby, umbrella stands bloom with offerings.
I stuff mine in with the rest, tell myself there is a whole umbrella culture here that I have yet to learn.
An hour of tippety-tap magic, a half-hour’s homeward navigation on a meandering but very peaceful bus, and then …
It stops raining.
My window sparkles …
my balcony fern shimmers …
And I open an email from a long-time friend. Not just long-time — prescient as well.
She’s sent me a link to an article about umbrella culture in Japan.
Thank you, Linda.
Blane Lawson William Hogue
/ 14 October 2017Loved the umbrella culture story, Penny. We don’t see umbrellas much in Calgary and our son (Sally is his Godmother) now living in Vancouver refuses to give in to the umbrella culture there!
icelandpenny
/ 26 October 2017If/when I find a waterproof hat, I’ll leave umbrellas behind myself. A gent in Whole Foods the other day confirmed that he was indeed wearing a Tilley rainhat (a new design), but then also told me the 3-figure price tags. Oops. I may stick to umbrellas…
Brett
/ 14 October 2017That’s a lot of rain! Great pics! 🙂
sloppy buddhist
/ 30 October 2017Ppl in etown rarely use umbrellas…I do remember my Vancouver days…we’re getting snow apparently 😳🤗 sending joy nice captures Penny…I love the rain scenes 🤓