From mountaintops...

I celebrated my 30th birthday in grand style.. by rewarding myself with a ten-day vacation in a whole other continent with a girlfriend. And reminded myself that I'm still young, healthy, strong, and loving life by climbing up Egypt's highest peak, Mount Katherine.

And, boy, was I hurting up there! By the last bit of the ascent, I could barely keep up with my 61 year-old guide who probably weighed 95 pounds soaking wet and whose soles were about to fall off his ancient shoes.

The view was absolutely gorgeous. No green, but the variation of stone, terrain colors, lava rock, made it all awesome when looking from the top. This self-pic is just beyond cool. I didn't expect to capture so much detail. 

Shoe Malady

Owie. Damn. My feet hurt.

I'm in the midst of a shoe dilemma.

I walk everywhere. So I need comfortable shoes.
I am out all day, leave for work and don't go back for about 12 hours.
I need dress for work.
I hate wearing clunky closed toe shoes in this climate.
I am out all day which rules carrying excess baggage like a second pair of shoes.
I trip over poorly patched and broken sidewalks which rules out heels.
I need arch support and am hurting from lack thereof in my ballet flats.
I love the cheap strappy sandals here but can't get sizes to accommodate my wide feet.

Now my feet hurt from the lack of proper support and protection. Shouldn't I, of all people, have access to the right shoes?