KnowYourTrip.com

Yes, that is a reference to the old Steve Martin Comedy Routine and Short Story “Cruel Shoes”.  You can check out his book here.  I have thought about his routine as I walked miles around France and Italy.  When one is a seasoned Tripper, you learn that your shoes are number one important accessory while exploring.  It can effect most of your day – everyday.  Blisters, corns, calluses, heel pain, calf pain, even back pain, and overall soreness comes to mind.

Most of the historic centers of France and Italy have cobblestones which can be like hiking on Hawaiian lava rock – barefoot.  In Italy, besides older women being allergic to gray hair (that’s for another post), they are slaves to foot fashion.  Sit in a cafe in a piazza on a Sunday and watch the elderly ladies in their fashionable Ferragamo high heels stepping cautiously from cobble to cobble praying they don’t break and ankle.

In Paris, they have a whole other problem and so will you.  The French women are smart enough to wear cute little flat shoes around town like this:

Now, you’re a head of the game if you wear these shoes around cobblestones.  But the Trippers in Paris have a whole other problem: Mutt Mines!  In Paris, the French do not pick up after their pooches.  It just doesn’t happen. You see all these fashionable attired French women walking their cute little dogs but when they walk past and you’re not looking – they’re dropping a Mutt Mine.  So, you have to look down virtually every step you take or – well – MUTT MINE EXPLOSION!  More here. But don’t click here!

I have a list of requirements that a Tripper’s Travel Shoes should meet:

• Break Them In First: Make sure you have already broken them in before you left on your trip.  No trial runs while on your trip!
• Black or Brown: The shoes should be black or brown for versitility, they don’t show dirt or scuffs or mutt mine explosions
• Do NOT Wear White: Do not where white sneakers, running shoes, tennis shoes, nursing shoes EVER – for too many reasons to write.
• Cushioned Shoes: Shoe Manufacturers have come up with dozens of options for fashionable, comfortable, and “foot health” friendly selections.  Find a good line of men’s shoes here.
• Two Pair Limit:  Unless you don’t have a problem with lugging a lot of luggage, you should be able to get by with two pairs – a comfortable dressy pair and a comfortable casual pair of walkers.  If you are an athlete or continue to train while you travel – you can make your second or even a third pair – a pair of running shoes.
• Flip Flops:  This is a gray area.  If you do bring them, you had better be bringing them to go to the beach or take a shower in them.  For your own safety, do not wear them on a city street.  All you’d need is to have someone step on your foot and break crush a toe!

Just for fun, listen to a bit of Steve Martin’s “Cruel Shoes” AFTER THE JUMP . . . . .

Cheers, Carter

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Yup, that’s what I said “Band-Aids Will Heal The World”.  Well, almost . . .  Relax Bono.  No, I’m not talking about the Rock Extravaganza Charity Concert.  Just the humble little strip of plastic or cloth on a tiny bit of gauze.  

When I first thought of writing a blog, I thought what will I write about?  And “Band-Aids” popped in my head.  ”BAND-AIDS” you say?  It’s one of the handiest things to have in your luggage / back pack while traveling.

How will it heal the world? Let’s think little, not big.  When you or someone needs a bandage it’s because you hurt.  Right?  Physically, you’re cut or scraped and bleeding.  But mentally you have an ever so slightly panic moment.  And then WHAMMO!  You pull back that paper covering to reveal the rescue and you’re a hero!  The second you put it on the wound (owwie for our purposes) – everything is a little closer to being alright.  

Who wouldn’t want to share that with a stranger?  I was in the town of Orange, in Vaucluse, France frantically looking for a toilet.  (that’s another story)  As I was crossing the town square to go to Cafe “Les Negociants” Glacier for an espresso as an excuse to use their loo, I saw a little boy slip, fall, and start screaming.  I reacted as his mother did and ran in his direction.  She quickly tried to get him under control.  The little boy held his leg as his knee was bleeding.  I opened my back pack and pulled out a band aid.  Armed with a smile, I reached out with the band aid to hand it to his mother.  She looked up a little surprised and recognizing what I had in my hand, she took it with a kind “Merci”.  I smiled, having no time to stay and wallow in gratification because nature was calling.  As I dashed to the cafe, the mother yelled “Merci, monsieur”.

Another time I was riding the Tube in London.  Like fellow passengers around me, I was sitting in an tuned-out state.  I looked across from me and saw a teenager bleeding a good bleed from his cheek. He was trying to stop it without making a scene.  Realizing that he only had his hand and sleeve, I grabbed a band-aid from my back pack and handed it to him.  Without skipping a beat, he opened it, looked at his reflexion in the window, and placed it on his cheek.  Not a word was said between us.  It didn’t need to be because I new the little bit of panic he was in. Now it was over.  Then, the problem of the “stare factor” of a band-aid stuck to a teenager’s face must have come to his mind.  For just a moment, the band-aid fixed his world.

The issue of band-aid détente aside, band-aids should always be carried with a Tripper.  I recommend they be carried in a little snack bag or zip-lock® bag for moisture-proofing.  Also, I find that the fabric kind sticks much better.  Plastic ones usually claim they’re waterproof but I find that not to hold water (pun-intended). Besides, getting waterlogged and not holding up in a moist surrounding, the plastic ones just don’t stay stuck on.  So, fabric band-aid it is.  Also, band-aids are good for:

Preventing blisters – apply to weak spots on your foot or spots where you know your shoe is rubbing and could cause a problem as a day wears on.

Protecting you from scratching a bug bite – some “no-see-ums” or sand fleas cause an itch that won’t give up for days.  A band-aid will prevent you from itching until you bleed.  The New Zealand beach sand fleas come to mind.  Yikes!

Hemming clothing – in a pinch, it’ll hold up your hem on your garment to get you through a dinner or night out.

Repair Eye Glasses – gawd forbid that happens but it will keep-um together albeit with embarrassment.

Sore Nipple Prevention – that’s right, I said it.  If you have a travel garment that’s just rubbing you wrong.

Hold Open Eye Lids – If you’re driving and find you are getting drowsy and need to get to your next accommodation.  Alright, one too far . . . pull over and rest up a bit.  But it’s a thought.  

If you have any other suggestions, just leave it in a comment . . . . 

Cheers, Carter