FEAR NOT THE COLD!

Everyone who knows me knows that I am always cold! I moved from N.Y. to California right after college primarily to keep warm. Even in Hawaii, when a cloud passes over the bright shining sun for more than a few minutes, I feel chilled. This is why most of my travels have either been during warm weather months or to tropical locations. So when my daughter suggested we go to Prague in December to experience their magical Christmas season, I was very hesitant. Okay, truth be told, I was really not at all on board and was afraid that I’d never want to leave the warm hotel room and I’d miss all the beautiful sites. But I decided to take on the challenge, and I’m really glad I did. I learned something new on this trip – when dressed appropriately, the cold can be very exhilarating!

I started to panic about two weeks before we were leaving when the weather dropped here and I was miserable. I asked people who live in much colder climates how they survive and they all said to dress in layers. And to have a good quality warm coat, mittens ("they're better than gloves," they said), a wool hat, wool socks, and warm boots (not necessarily cute ones). I researched brands and products online and got some good deals from top brands like Marmot, North Face, and Sorel.

Armed with the right wardrobe and a new attitude toward the cold – I was determined to make this fun – I was ready. Or so I thought. It was much colder than expected. It dropped to 10 degrees during our 5-hour walking tour. Even our tour guide said it was unusually cold and they normally don’t have snow, which had turned to ice. But we made it work by warming up with hot chocolate or mulled wine, and alternating time spent outside at the Old Town Square Christmas Market, the Charles Bridge, or Prague Castle to inside sites like the Prague Libary or Kafka Museum.

Was it worth it to be cold and bundled up the entire time during our travels? ABSOLUTELY! Not only did we get to experience the magical Christmas markets, lights and foods during our visit, but we avoided the huge crowds that are there during the warmer months. I’ve now opened up a whole new travel season that I'd avoided in the past. I can’t wait for my upcoming trip next November to Budapest and Vienna.

I’m not sure if it's true that we get more set in our ways as we get older, as is often said. Maybe that’s just an excuse for not getting out of our comfort zone, which we can do at any age. Try it, you may surprise yourself!