Hats off

Or on, as the case might be.

As we were wandering around the tourist centre on Sunday, Dirk told me I needed a hat. I kept saying no. I am not a hat person. (Well, I was for a while in my twenties after a disastrous haircut left me with no other choice.) What was the point in buying a hat here that I would never wear at home? What I actually needed – and had failed to buy when I had the chance – was one of those cheap plastic fans selling for a euro outside one of the souvenir shops.

In a booth in a classier market I spotted fans for sale.

Ten times more than the cheap plastic ones, this wood and painted paper fan is also more than ten times the quality.

A bit further along, another booth, this one selling hats, one of which caught my eye. This is a hat I might actually wear back home and, yeah, Dirk is right, I do need a hat.

So, next day in 30+ degree Vincenza, I was ready with a hat and a fan.

Yes, the hat’s come in handy and, oh my goodness, the fan most certainly has.

Took a little while for Dirk to catch up, but yesterday I managed to convince him that his baseball cap wasn’t enough, that he needed a proper straw hat with a brim. What he also needed was a pair of prescription sunglasses, but he didn’t have a chance to sort these before we left. Oh, look! In the shop right next to the hat shop there is a pair of sunglasses large enough to fit over his regular glasses. Check him out.

So, a couple of clothing successes to make me feel better about the abject failure of the rest of my wardrobe planning.

Okay, it hasn’t been a complete failure. The tunics and leggings worked just fine in London. Here not at all. WAY too hot. I have at least six things in my suitcase I am never going to wear as I cycle through the four things that are cool enough for the weather. Shades of Cordes last April. I cannot pack for shit. Next time I am getting a wardrobe coach.

But at least I have a really nice hat.