Shoes for Paris and European Tours
I'lll skip to the bottom line right off: pay for good shoes. Makes sense, after all, because airfare, hotels, ground transportation, and meals will be a chunk of change and none of it will be enjoyable if your feet are not happy. So choosing comfortable, sturdy shoes is paramount for any traveler.
The Worldwide-web is filled with answers to the question: What kind of shoes should a woman wear in Paris? The ladies want to "fit in" and not look like tourists, so they worry about the U.S. American-look of shoes. Yeah, yeah, everyone says Parisian women never wear athletic shoes unless they are actually participating in a sport. Truth to that, no doubt. Remember, though, that Parisian women have seen the Eiffel Tower and the L'Ouvre and the Champs Elysees; they see them everyday. They don't walk from one end of Paris to the other crisscrossing pedestrian cobblestone streets for 8 hours at a go, 4 days in a row. The well-dressed Parisian woman wears everyday shoes to walk to and from her flat to the office, or to lunch, or to the park and have a sit down before walking back home.
The traveler will be out and about all day, walking, standing, balancing for photos on the top of the steps, and more walking. If the trip is worth what it costs to get there and pay entrance fees for all the museums, order off the menus, or even grab a baguette from a shop, the feet must be happy first. Forget about what Parisian women wear on their feet, unless it's for one evening at a posh event.
On my recent trip to Paris, I took time to notice what kinds of shoes pounded the pavements all day. And to settle the question of what to wear, I took photos of the shoes I actually saw while I was there.
The most frequently worn shoes are the little ballet pumps by far. Like the black and red ones in these photos. Flip flops are for younger feet and the white sport walkers are on the feet of older persons who may need super support, and they don't want to fall down.
Another shoe I saw all over Paris is the light-weight sneaker, on both men and women. Bright colors, patterns, solids, you name it you will see it. The shoe shops have identical shoes found in U.S. stores. The top brands are the same all over the globe these days. Even the prices seemed the same, give or take a Euro. I thought of buying mine in Paris, rather than taking up room in my suitcase on the way over, and I'd have a wearable, practical, useful souvenir. In the end, I wore one pair of shoes the whole trip.
That's my shoe, the one at about 6'oclock in the photo. Obviously, the Mary Jane is the hot choice for U.S. travelers in Europe. This style comes in a wide variety of colors and shapes. Black goes with everything. Mine are Bzees. Absolutely the best shoe I've ever worn for travel. The Mary Jane style, to be honest, will probably give you away as a tourist these days.
What shoes do people in Europe/Eastern Europe wear? All kinds of shoes. Will they be able to tell I'm not European by my shoes? If you care about such things, the truth is they will be able to tell as soon as you speak, and even if you pass them on the street without uttering a word, Europeans will know. Even young children will know. It's uncanny, but they know. Unless you wear skin-tight clothing, you will never pass for a native European, no matter what your shoes look like.
As in most major cosmopolitan U.S. cities, women wear heals to work and out to dinner in Europe. Smart women bring a pair of comfy shoes along for walking at lunch or after work. Somehow, those who wear the spike heals manage to walk across cobblestones and climb the stairs. This takes practice, so if you don't wear them regularly forget about bringing them on vacation.
Shoes must be comfortable to fully enjoy what these cities have to offer. You'll see more on foot than you will from a taxi or bus. Walk when it is reasonably possible to do so. Bring extra shoe inserts rather than an extra pair of shoes. Even when taking a taxi or the metro, you will need to walk and many times to climb steps. A lot of steps! Treat your feet to cushy, supportive stylish sneakers or Mary Janes. Leave the running shoes at home (unless you'll be out jogging) and go for a pair of light weight sneakers instead of the "orthopedic" looking black or white walking shoes (unless you have foot ailments).
I took these photos in Paris, Budapest, Vienna, and Prague and in between these cities. They show real people, real shoes, on real feet. Forget about fitting in and more about finding new experiences.
The final photo shows the ankle boots worn by our faithful tour guide, an Austrian woman living in Italy. No doubt these are well-made Italian leather boots. She wears them every day and walks more than anyone else on tour. Her walking pace never slows. I'm quite sure her shoes are comfortable.
The Worldwide-web is filled with answers to the question: What kind of shoes should a woman wear in Paris? The ladies want to "fit in" and not look like tourists, so they worry about the U.S. American-look of shoes. Yeah, yeah, everyone says Parisian women never wear athletic shoes unless they are actually participating in a sport. Truth to that, no doubt. Remember, though, that Parisian women have seen the Eiffel Tower and the L'Ouvre and the Champs Elysees; they see them everyday. They don't walk from one end of Paris to the other crisscrossing pedestrian cobblestone streets for 8 hours at a go, 4 days in a row. The well-dressed Parisian woman wears everyday shoes to walk to and from her flat to the office, or to lunch, or to the park and have a sit down before walking back home.
The traveler will be out and about all day, walking, standing, balancing for photos on the top of the steps, and more walking. If the trip is worth what it costs to get there and pay entrance fees for all the museums, order off the menus, or even grab a baguette from a shop, the feet must be happy first. Forget about what Parisian women wear on their feet, unless it's for one evening at a posh event.
On my recent trip to Paris, I took time to notice what kinds of shoes pounded the pavements all day. And to settle the question of what to wear, I took photos of the shoes I actually saw while I was there.
What shoes do people in Europe/Eastern Europe wear? All kinds of shoes. Will they be able to tell I'm not European by my shoes? If you care about such things, the truth is they will be able to tell as soon as you speak, and even if you pass them on the street without uttering a word, Europeans will know. Even young children will know. It's uncanny, but they know. Unless you wear skin-tight clothing, you will never pass for a native European, no matter what your shoes look like.
As in most major cosmopolitan U.S. cities, women wear heals to work and out to dinner in Europe. Smart women bring a pair of comfy shoes along for walking at lunch or after work. Somehow, those who wear the spike heals manage to walk across cobblestones and climb the stairs. This takes practice, so if you don't wear them regularly forget about bringing them on vacation.
Shoes must be comfortable to fully enjoy what these cities have to offer. You'll see more on foot than you will from a taxi or bus. Walk when it is reasonably possible to do so. Bring extra shoe inserts rather than an extra pair of shoes. Even when taking a taxi or the metro, you will need to walk and many times to climb steps. A lot of steps! Treat your feet to cushy, supportive stylish sneakers or Mary Janes. Leave the running shoes at home (unless you'll be out jogging) and go for a pair of light weight sneakers instead of the "orthopedic" looking black or white walking shoes (unless you have foot ailments).
I took these photos in Paris, Budapest, Vienna, and Prague and in between these cities. They show real people, real shoes, on real feet. Forget about fitting in and more about finding new experiences.
posted by MEISTER-Blog | 8:51 AM
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