Belarusian Shoes

When we went to the ballet with our friends Sergey and Irina, I realized that my shoes were entirely inappropriate. Sergey had on a beautiful pair of black suede shoes with pointy toes. The leading edge of men’s shoes here tends to extend a bit in front of the toes, and the upper part of the shoe slopes down to the sole like the square end of a railroad pick axe. Realizing my sartorial failure, I resolved to find my own Belarusian shoes.

From 2010-04 Easter in Minsk

Fate intervened in the days before Easter, when we walked into the local trade center and saw an exposition of the latest products from various Belarusian clothing companies. I saw some shoes that I really liked and I asked the sales guy where I could buy some. He sent me to a store near the railway station.

It just so happened that on the Saturday of Easter weekend we went to visit Sergey and Irina, a trip that starts at the railway station. I didn’t find exactly the shoes I had in mind, but I like these even better. They aren’t as pointy as some people’s shoes, but they're clearly Belarusian. Comfortable, too. And Alla was pleased that it happened on Easter weekend because it turns out to be traditional here to have new shoes for Easter.

Today I bought some other Belarusian clothes. I can now go out dressed almost entirely in local gear, though I still haven’t bought any Belarusian underwear and don’t feel that I need any.