When I moved to Ethiopia for the better part of a year, I brought only a pair of Soaps (so called "freestyle walking" shoes): not a brilliant move as there are no handrails and about as many curbs.

When I went to India a couple years later, I inexplicably brought my Soaps again: this time complete with holes in the bottoms.

Now I'm in Italy with only a pair of $9, fake-leather, not very comfortable, shoes.

Next time I travel, I'm going to delegate the shoe-choosing decision to a trusted friend.