Writing

Rainy Day in the City

This one gets a preamble. As part of the launch of author John Green’s book, The Anthropocene Reviewed — a beautiful book about rating aspects of the human centered world on a five star scale — a fan project emerged tasking readers to write a review of their city on a five star scale and add it as a pin to a digital map. The goal being to see where the book is read all over the world and to get a glimpse into the world of those people. Here is what I wrote for mine:

Now I could review Vancouver, and I probably should since that’s the task I’ve agreed to complete, but I don’t think I will. Even though I’ve lived here 5 years, I’m not very good at exploring and if you were to look at me with bright eyes and ask me where to eat or what to do I’d have to go call my sister before I could offer an answer. Suffice it to say, I only know my little corner of the city so I feel lacking in my ability to review it in its entirety. What I can do instead is review a rainy day in the city, and since that’s so close to what the essence of Vancouver is anyway I think it still counts. 

I bought this book on a rainy day in the city and had to tuck it under my coat as I walked back to my car. Some might think of a day such as that as perfect to curl up with a warm cup of tea and get to reading, but there I’d have to disagree. There’s a lot of good things about a city: like the restaurants, the parks, and the endless list of activities, but one thing that’s unfortunate is the number of people cities attract. Those places you wanted to eat always have a line, those beaches, hikes and parks are crowded, and anything you want to do, hundreds of others want to do too. But not on rainy days. 

On rainy days there’s only the brave few sitting on the shore looking at the grey sky and dark waters. There’s only a handful of hikers risking muddying their shoes for some fresh air. The parks are empty, the apartments are full and the whole city is there for the taking. 

There are things to be enjoyed about rainy days other than the lack of people (but let’s be honest that should be enough). At no other time does the air taste so crisp and feel so fresh. Petrichor is the name for that smell and I’d say it’s unrivalled in its ability to fill me with life. Not only does it smell great, it’s also when the city is at its prettiest. The skyline of Vancouver is almost incomplete without its textured grey backdrop, like it’s trapped under the white water of a giant crashing wave. It’s beautiful up close too on these kinds of days with every leaf and needle of the trees adorned with tiny crystals and a lushness that doesn't exist at any other time. 

People are too attached to the oppressive heat of the sun and all that comes with it like suntans, warmth and the feeling of being dry. There is so much to be enjoyed in the rain that I fear is too often overlooked. 

Rainy days are the days that need to be seized because nobody else seems to be doing it. 

I give rainy days in the city four stars.

If this review has made any of you think about going outside on a rainy day to explore the city I’d urge you to reconsider. Stay inside. There are plenty of good things to do inside, like read John Green’s new book, The Anthropocene Reviewed, available now anywhere books are sold.