Shoes Blues

When I travel I do a ton of walking. I typically find lodging in the city center, and walk from sight to sight as much as I reasonably can. This comes from my stubborn need to feel independent, as well as to avoid the humiliation of fumbling through an unfamiliar transportation system. But walking is also the best way to get a real flavor for the varying neighborhoods in a city and, of course, provides plenty of exercise while I'm off my regular running routine.

This means footwear is a big deal and sure enough, having a good shoe strategy is high on my packing priority list. Thus, I was tickled to see a recent article by the New York Times frugal traveler on just this topic

Alas, while reading his otherwise sensible article, I noted that Mr. Gross missed the female perspective here, by give short shrift to the cute factor. Any shoe that meets his criteria of being rugged, waterproof and good for running, will surely fall short of one of mine which is: girly enough to go with my cute dinner dress.

Sadly, my own shoe strategy also falls short. On trips past, I have mainly worn clodhopper sandals with good arch support; shoes that can most kindly be described as 'serviceable.' Last time, I uselessly toted around a pair of cute slip-on sandals that nearly amputated my baby toes on the one occasion I hobbled to dinner wearing them.

This time, my plan is to bring one pair semi-clodhopper sandals, one pair full-foot flats and, because I am psychologically unable to part with them, my running shoes.

Yes, I know, three pairs of shoes is ridiculous. But I rationalize by saying I'll be wearing one of them, so that means I'm only packing two pairs, right? And besides, as most any woman will tell you, it is impossible for the female traveler to go on a trip of any length with only one pair of shoes.