The Canadian Government Travel Advisories caution travellers to try to appear inconspicuous and don’t dress up. A memorable article I read cautioned “Don’t be the lady in the red blazer”. Be inconspicuous, wear somber clothing. Don’t be remarkable.
Well, they got it wrong. I am dressed in my most inconspicuous clothes, dull in beige, while around me the locals wear bright pink blouses with red polka dot purses and blue shoes. Ladies (and guys) are walking proof that orange and purple go well together and that turquoise is best mixed with yellow. The Central and South American woman casually combines incredible colours with an innate sense of artistry.
But it’s my shoes that will always label me as a foreigner.
Even if I could learn to speak perfect Spanish and could master the art of colour matching, I could never manage to walk in the shoes.