When packing for a trip, remember to always bring your sense of adaptability. I often use the phrase "when in Rome" to remind myself to cope when things don't quite go my way. Yet, there are times it's smart to cut bait and do something else.
We had a few of these moments in Cleveland when things simply weren't enjoyable and there were other opportunities available to us.
For example, we visited the Arcade first thing Saturday. The city was quiet and parking came easy. The Arcade was almost deserted. My plan was to explore the surrounding area on foot and be at the library when they opened at 10 a.m. I have read amazing things about this library and was excited to see it for myself. By all accounts it's much like an art museum.
We strolled and explored that vicinity, enjoying the early morning sunshine and the bits of shade we could find here and there. Then traffic began to pick up. The beep beep beep of a large vehicle and sounds of a jackhammer notified us that construction does not take a break on the weekend. Nor does the city's homeless population, some of whom set up camp in the middle of the sidewalk and one who was shaving in a fancy mirrored sculpture in a park.
Some commotion down the street caught my eye as a clump of police, fire and EMS vehicles pulled in every which direction as people appeared to be scurrying away from whatever emergency was underway. Then I noticed the city's police force was closing streets in the area. Did it have something to do with the officer who had been shot on the 4th of July?
We didn't know and I was starting to question my desire to find out.
I expressed my waning interest in this neighborhood and Adam said "let's go."
So, we jumped in the car and found a gorgeous neighborhood of expensive homes along Lake Erie, their sprawling lawns and occasional gates providing a barrier between them and the unwashed masses of tourists driving by. Then we headed to Lake View Cemetery to look for the graves of Cleveland's noteworthy and to explore the Garfield Memorial (the President, not the cat. More to come on this later).
Turns out, the two of us are happiest when left with the dead. I sincerely wish this were a joke but we do like our cemeteries.
After some exploration here, these two introverts were recharged enough to brave a bookstore and head for the Museum of Art where we drank in the beauty of countless treasures and oddities.
What's the moral here?
We had a plan. That plan didn't work out. We found something else to do and we were happier for it. I can go see the library another day. Or not. It will be fine.
Had we tried to force something that just wasn't right, we wouldn't have enjoyed the day nearly so much as we did.
It's important to adapt to your surroundings and enjoy a place for what it is. It's equally important to know when it's really just time to leave. Master this and you'll have a great trip!
Check back for a story about my favorite stop up there.
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