Columbia: Adults Should Still Run in the Rain

Envigado, Columbia

Adults Should Still Run in the Rain

I’ve realized that oftentimes the most memorable parts of traveling are the small, unexpected moments that cannot be anticipated through an itinerary. With time, the astonishment of grand buildings and thrills of excursions fade away, but sometimes, the seemingly mundane interactions and unplanned activities stick with us.

On one of our last nights in Envigado, Columbia, a violent rain storm began after we finished dinner. This was common during our stay, due to both the season and tropical nature of the city. Our Airbnb was located on a quiet road in a local residential area. A busy soccer field united the town, surrounded by homes, small mom-and-pop grocery stores, and a few cafes.

One of these quaint cafes was Don Alirio, an outdoor space that was reminiscent of ones we saw in Italy. The design was nothing fancy, though something about the instrumental music and string lights created the most welcoming ambiance.

Most mornings, James and I walked the 5 minutes to Don Alirio for espressos and Wordle – an energy-boosting combination of caffeine and competition to start the day. While the cafe’s close proximity to home was the initial reason we visited, we continued because of the quality of coffee and warmness from the staff. We were immediately greeted with kindness from everybody who worked there, patiently listening to our Spanish and telling us about the different coffee beans.

We quickly felt a part of the community here, as everyone learned our names quickly. One day, as I was working outside on my laptop, the woman working came out with a mouse pad, as she had noticed I didn’t have one. While there were other cafes, it was moments like these that kept us returning.

On this stormy night, however, as we cleaned up dinner, we were faced with a very difficult problem: we had no dessert. Overhead, the intensity of the rain drops increased, pounding the building and screaming at me to stay inside. Apparently, James heard a very different message from the thudding above.

When he suggested we make a run for Don Alirio, something in me knew it was going to be an unforgettable moment. Fueled by a need for both dessert and a thrill, I grabbed my ridiculous bright red rain jacket and prepared to run. I once saw a Myth Busters episode about a theory on whether or not running through rain keeps you dry. I can now confirm that the answer is: definitely not. We were getting absolutely soaked.

The streets flooded instantly, creating muddy puddles that were impossible to avoid. The bottoms of my sweatpants were drenched, and even my rain jacket was beginning to fail in its literal one job. Normally, this would be incredibly uncomfortable and annoying. However, as we sprinted towards our favorite cafe in the dark, jumping through pools of sludge, we couldn’t stop laughing.

I was immediately transported into a childlike version of myself, completely disregarding any consequences of our actions.

I did not care that my clothes would take days to dry in the humid Columbian climate. I didn’t care that we were showing up to a public restaurant looking like we lived on the streets behind it. I didn’t care if the water leaked through my clothes and damaged my phone. We were having a blast.

After a few minutes, the lights illuminating Don Alirio’s patio became visible. To my surprise, the place was packed! We were lucky to find one open table amongst many locals, all of whom were talking and laughing over coffee and pastries. Hoping to warm up, we immediately ordered hot chocolate and croissants. Both items hit the spot, heating our insides as we soaked the cafe floor beneath us.

As we enjoyed our treats, the cafe’s typical calming music played above us. We were just two Americans in a sea of local Colombians, all of us huddled under one roof, relishing in the comfort of shelter and croissants.

I thought about every other time I’d complained about the rain, as if Mother Nature was trying to inconvenience my entire day – a personal attack on my happiness. However, on this night, we leaned into her scheme, refusing to let it dictate our actions. I felt invigorated by this, regretting not doing this sooner.

Why do we stop playing in puddles as we age? Why do we give into believing things are an inconvenience when they don’t have to be? Why don’t we do as many spontaneous activities just for the fun of it?

Darting through a rain storm for a sweet treat is one of my favorite memories from our entire month in Columbia. A moment that was impossible to plan and had no innate special qualities. Technically, we simply ate dessert at the same cafe we’d been visiting for weeks. However, the impromptu adventure reignited the childish need for pure fun inside me.

In the end, my Birkenstocks dried over a few days. The feeling of that night, however, never evaporated from my mind.