Doubling the value of your shoes

The English historian George Macauley Trevelyan once said that “After a day’s walk everything has twice its usual value.”

I’ve always liked to walk, whether around my neighborhood, the lake nearby, or around campus. Not only is it good for the body, but I find that it’s almost always good for the mind and soul as well. Here in Madrid, walking has been all of these things for me as well as the most educational mode of transportation I’ve ever experienced. Everything always has twice, maybe three times, its usual value after I’ve walked through it.

And by educational, I mean gaining street smarts, cultural understanding, architectural appreciation—the works. Everywhere I go, I have to walk, since I clearly don’t have my car here in Europe. But I’ve realized how different it is to appreciate what a city has to offer by walking rather than by bus or taxi. In Toledo, for instance, I was able to wander up and down the cobblestone alleyways that were full of authentic, local restaurants, street vendors, and musicians. Though Spaniards feel comfortable driving up and down these claustrophobically narrow streets, I would never even attempt it. So walking was my best option there.

In Madrid, walking has been my best companion. I am already much more in shape than before I left, and I have time to pause and smell the roses and take pictures of the many beautiful buildings, cerca early 19th century. The other day, when I was done with classes at 1:30, I walked around the city with my friend Mike. We walked up and down some of the main streets in Madrid, including Calle Castellana and Gran Via, which took us to many of the most popular spots of the city. Callao, which is the film district, is fun to explore during the day. I was able to see what all the theatres were playing which movies, and started to plan future movie-going excursions.

The other day I took a trip to Chueca, Madrid’s gay district, which is also evidently known as the best place to buy shoes here, though I still have yet to find that street. I went by myself, as I needed to buy a voltage converter and adapter—a long story, don’t ask—and ended up wandering around the area. Such a simple trip turned into an hour of exploration. I walked up and down the streets and found some of the cutest restaurants and cafes I have seen so far, as well as numerous stores of unique products, from disco balls to glow-in-the-dark sticks, jewels, cardboard, and copy shops. All the buildings were colorful and fun, yet still had the charm and class of a 19th century city. It reminded me of the parts of Paris you see in movies, and the people seemed so calm and relaxed. As I stumbled upon a beautiful plaza with a fountain, I decided to spend a while writing a letter to Ben—my boyfriend for those who don’t know—and soak up the sun. It was definitely a successful walking day.

So next time you feel like walking, let your feet take you where your soul asks you to. And besides, you’ll simultaneously be helping the environment!