blind: That's frustrating isn't it? I found myself different topics that would just be acceptable. I honestly DO talk about the weather! (But then... that's also a geographical thing, and I've always lived places that have some form of bonkers weather that's worth commenting on). It might feel awkward, but hey, at least you don't need to talk to them again, right?
Like... if you're somewhere with food, can always comment on that. Or if there was some sort of "performance" (a speaker, a movie, a singer, etc) it's easy enough to talk about how that went.
Perhaps before going somewhere where you'd be meeting new people, you could think of some topics that might fit in with the circumstances before you go? You might feel more prepared then?