Snow and slush and showers and clouds and melting and freezing and more snow predicted for Tuesday … what’s a New Westminsterite to do?
Get outta town, of course.
Here, thanks to our diligent morning research (by “research” we mean “Google”) are seven places in the world where you could be enjoying nicer weather right now:
1. Havana, Cuba
It’s sunny with a little cloud and a beautiful 25C in the Cuban capital today. Savour the past in Old Havana, get yourself some yummy food – arroz con pollo, anyone? – and zoom out to Playas del Este to hang on the beach.
(Failing that, book your tickets to Cuba Vibra!, the show by Lizt Alfonso Dance Cuba that’s coming to Massey Theatre in March.)
2. Santiago, Chile
“Flanked by the awe-inspiring Andes on one side and the Chilean Coastal Range on the other, Santiago de Chile's setting surrounded by mountains in the country’s central valley is nothing short of breathtaking,” says Hello Magazine. Good enough for us. We’re informed that the historical centre of the city is worth an explore and that we should try a ‘mote con huesillo’ (a traditional sweet non-alcoholic drink made of wheat and peaches).
Oh, and the weather outlook? 28C and sunny, 30 C and sunny, 31 C and sunny, 32 C and sunny … you get the drift. Seems like a good plan. We’re in.
3. Sydney, Australia
If you’re going to go Down Under, you might as well start in Sydney, a bustling, cosmopolitan city that has something on offer for everyone. Take a harbour cruise, climb the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge, take a jaunt out to Bondi Beach for some surfing, travel out to the Blue Mountains for some beautiful scenery … just enjoy summer, basically. Also, Turandot is currently playing at the world-famous Sydney Opera House. It’s supposed to be quite nice today, with a high of 26; temperatures are getting higher as the week goes on, although the cloud cover is moving in.
Seems worth a trip.
4. Monkey Mia, Western Australia
While you’re Down Under, consider this somewhat more out-of-the-way destination. Admittedly, it’s not perfect, as it’s forecast to be a little cloudy, but it’s sitting at a balmy 21 C at midnight and it’s supposed to get up to 28 C during the day, so seems like a nice outing. Monkey Mia Reserve is in the Shark Bay World Heritage Area, and it’s mainly known for its chance to commune with dolphins (who visit the beach to interact with visitors).
Down side is, it’s a bit out of the way (OK, a LOT out of the way, being nearly 900 kilometres from Perth) – but you can fly there from Perth in a couple of hours.
5. Wanaka, New Zealand
If you’re not into extreme heat, how does a nice sunny Saturday and a high of 19 C sound? This quirky little backpacker-friendly destination on New Zealand’s South Island offers all the outdoorsy fun you’d expect – hiking, water sports, even the country’s highest tandem paragliding. Don’t miss out on unusual little attractions like Puzzling World and the Cinema Paradiso, with its comfy old couches. Also, you’re but an hour away from bigger, busier Queenstown – which, among other attractions, boasts Nevis Bungy, the third-highest bungy jump in the world.
6. Maldives
February is actually the sunniest month in Maldives, we read, so don’t get too worried about the rainfall predicted for Saturday and Sunday. Monday starts a stretch of sunny-and-30 C weather that seems just about right for someone trying to escape this late Lower Mainland winter. The Maldives, for those who don’t know, is in the Indian Ocean and includes 26 ring-shaped atolls made up of more than 1,000 coral islands, known for its beaches, blue lagoons and extensive reefs. It's not Bora Bora, but since this isn't an ideal time of year to visit that South Pacific paradise, we're willing to compromise.
7. Phuket, Thailand
Phuket is home to some of the country’s most popular beaches, and February is in fact the driest month of the year – and its average daily maximum temperatures reach 33 C. This week’s weather forecast, in fact, is so good it’s practically boring, with a whole bunch of sun and 30-plus days. Whether you’re into resort-style, nightclubby fun or a quieter, more secluded beach vacation, Phuket has it on offer. You can try out scuba diving or even bungy jumping, or visit the big Buddha statue on the peak of Mt. Nagakerd.
Or just sit on the beach and think about your co-workers scraping ice off their sidewalks. Whichever.
OK, OK, we get it. There’s a good chance none of those are really an option today. Never mind. Just make yourself feel better by considering this: The highest temperature recorded in the world in the past 24 hours was in South Africa, at 44 C. The lowest? – 55C, in Russia.
Could be worse.
