If only .....

If only these shoes could talk!  They were chosen for me by a podiatrist some years back as I was about to set out on tour that would involve much more walking than I was used to.


In that time these shoes have:

v  strolled around Gaudi’s famous Sagrada Familia church in BARCELONA

v  in VALENCIA, walked the City of Arts and Sciences on the banks of the diverted Turia River which has now been converted into parks and sports areas

v  trudged up the slopes of MONTSERRAT to visit the shrine of the Black Madonna

v  wandered through the alleys of the hilltop fortress of CARCASONNE, home to the Cathar heretics ruthlessly murdered by papal forces in the Albigensian Crusade of 1209

v  visited the HERMITAGE and nearby sites where St Marcellin de Champagnat established the Marist Brothers

v  stood within the Cathedral of St Mary Major in MARSEILLE, started in 4^th century and evolved into today’s massive edifice

v  rested in a coffee shop on the Promenade des Anglais in NICE, admiring the sparkling waters of the Bay of Angels

v  climbed the terraces of the Colosseum in ROME and sat on the bare marble benches from where the mob watched the Games

v  legged it to the top of Montesanto via the funicular for breathtaking views of the city and bay of NAPLES

v  explored the ruins of POMPEII and hiked to the summit of the nearby Mount Vesuvius volcano

v  plodded around the AMALFI COAST admiring the homes of the rich and famous

v  strolled the 2km walls of DUBROVNIK giving a great view of the ancient city within, and still showing signs of the shelling endured during the siege by Yugoslav forces 1990 in the Croatian War of Independence

v  crossed the intersection in SARAJEVO where the Archduke Ferdinand was assassinated in 1914, triggering World War 1

v  were left at the door of the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia in ISTANBUL

v  roamed the cemeteries of GALLIPOLI and visited Anzac Cove

v  scrambled though the ruins of ancient TROY

v  promenaded the banks of the Danube River and the halls of the Buda Castle in BUDAPEST

v  reverenced the aisles of St Vitus Cathedral and stopped to pray at tomb of St Wenceslas in PRAGUE

v  hopped aboard cruise liner Brilliance of the Seas in Amsterdam for a cruise of the NORWEGIAN FJORDS

v  visited the central Police Station in OSLO after my wallet was stolen at the Viking Museum

v  toddled past the Little Mermaid sitting on her rock looking out to sea in search of her lover prince at COPENHAGEN

v  halted longingly in front of the chocolate shops and lace boutiques in BRUGGE

v  trooped with tour group the battlefields of YPRES and checked out the Menin Gate Memorial where over 6000 Aussies “missing in action” are listed

v  climbed on a table-top in LONDON to watch the Queen’s barge sail down the Thames to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee

v  rested in a pew in the cathedral at CANTERBURY opposite Archbishop Rowan Williams during Evensong

v  ambled the streets of CAMBRIDGE taking in the university and its famous Kings College Chapel

v  explored the circle of standing stones at STONEHENGE that still have archaeologists uncertain of their origin and meaning

v  stood in front of the memorial to Captain Arthur Phillip of First Fleet fame in the cathedral at SALISBURY

v  strolled the lookouts along the GREAT OCEAN ROAD to take in the remnants of the Twelve Apostles

v  climbed the rim of the Blue Lake in MOUNT GAMBIER to marvel at its striking colour

v  followed in the footsteps of St Mary Mackillop in PENOLA and checked out the delightful Coonawarra wineries nearby

v  descended into the NARACOORTE caves to see their limestone formations and prehistoric fossils

v  walked the streets of south-west Queensland towns like DALBY, JANDOWAE, CHINCHILLA, MILES, ROMA, INJUNE, MITCHELL and AUGATHELLA

v  paced the night-sky observatory at CHARLEVILLE to get a telescopic view of the planets

v  trudged across BIRDSVILLE pursued by a million flies to enjoy a pie at the famous bakery

v  wandered the tourist sites in QUILPIE, THARGOMINDAH, EULO, CUNNAMULLA, DIRRANBANDI, ST GEORGE, GOONDIWINDI, TEXAS, INGLEWOOD, MILLMERAN and PITTSWORTH

v  clambered over the ruins of the Angor Thom city that have been reclaimed from the jungles of SIEM REAP in Cambodia

v  visited the Marist Brothers boarding school for severely disabled children in PHNOM PENH
v  Knelt through the Easter Vigil at the Notre Dame Cathedral in HO CHI MINH CITY

v  plodded up into the Viet Cong cave at DA NANG

v  paddled around the mystic islands that dot HA LONG BAY

v  tip-toed through Uncle Ho’s residence in HANOI

v  meandered through the scrumptious Central Markets in ADELAIDE

v  explored the wineries of the CLARE VALLEY and BAROSSA VALLEY with a rest stop at the Jesuit Retreat Centre and Winery at SEVEN HILL

v  stamped in exasperation at the rail platform in BROKEN HILL when late arrival deprived us of a city tour

v  rested up in the sleeper of the Trans Continental train as we crossed the NULLABOR PLAIN

v  kept going as we were shown Hay Street in KALGOORLIE, famous for its brothels

v  moseyed around BUNBURY on a quiet Sunday looking for somewhere to eat

v  traipsed out along the BUSSELTON Jetty, the longest wooden jetty in the world

v  stayed steady on the accelerator as I admired the wildflowers, caves, wineries and beaches of the MARGARET RIVER region

v  tracked to the lighthouse at CAPE LEEUWIN to see the meeting of the oceans

v  hoofed it around PARABURDOO to take in the Rio Tinto town’s great facilities for its mine workers

v  rode the guided bus tour of the open cut mine and railhead at TOM PRICE in the Pilbara

v  descended deep into the Dales Gorge in the KARIJINI NATIONAL PARK after checking out the wonderful aboriginal museum in the Visitors Centre there

v  tramped the corridors and yards of the notorious FREMANTLE Jail

v  wandered through the Benedictine monastery and township at NEW NORCIA, enjoying an organ recital in one of the college chapels on the way

v  chased the quokkas on ROTTNEST ISLAND as we headed to Oliver’s Hill to see the huge gun emplacements there

v  hiked the alps of the South Tyrol from BOLZANO and walked the path of the Fathers of the Council of TRENT

v  traipsed around RAVENNA admiring the beautiful mosaics that adorn its churches

v  shuffled around the Scrovegni Chapel in PADOVA to view the frescos painted by Giotto

v  scampered around the old Roman Arena in VERONA now used for opera and symphony concerts

v  criss-crossed LAKE COMO to take in the holiday mansions of the rich and famous

v  stood in awe before Leonardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper” on the end wall of the Dominican refectory in MILAN, as also in the city square gazing at the architectural wonder of the Duomo

v  plodded the colourful villages of the CINQUE TERRE hugging the rugged coastline of the Italian Riviera

v  circled the Leaning Tower of PISA before taking in the medieval township

v  footed it into St Peter’s Square in ROME to attend Pope Francis’ weekly audience

v  ambled down to CIVITAVECCHIA to join the Azamara Quest for the cruise In the Steps of St Paul

v  roamed the ruins of the site of the original Olympic Games at KATAKALON

v  traversed the ancient city of EPHESUS, visiting the house of Mary and the arena where Paul preached

v  sneaked into the cave on PATMOS where St John dictated the Apocalypse (?)

v  stumbled along the cobblestone streets of RHODES with its relics of Crusader times

v  climbed Calvary inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in JERUSALEM

v  clambered down into the cave inside the Church of the Nativity in BETHLEHEM

v  stood on the shores of LAKE GALILEE whilst I read the Beatitudes to the tour group where Jesus first uttered them (?)

v  paced PAPHOS in southern Cyprus where St Paul encountered a well-know sorcerer

v  hiked around SANTORINI enjoying its villages and the view of its caldera, what is left of the volcano that wiped out the Minoan civilization of Crete in 1600 BC

v  strolled the Areopagos and the Parthenon in ATHENS, not to mention the Agora or old town square

v  followed Paul’s footsteps into the square in CORINTH where he was tried by the pro-consul of the day

v  visited one of the 900 ft high rock-top monasteries in METEORA with its dazzling icons

v  toured the ancient Synagogue of BEREA and overnighted in THESSALONIKI where Paul stayed briefly

v  discovered the riverside spot where Paul baptised Lydia outside the walls of PHILIPPI, and in the old town square stood where Paul and Silas were flogged and jailed for disturbing the peace

v  tramped the huge shopping malls in DUBAI that even sport indoor ski slopes

v  climbed Castle Hill in TOWNSVILLE to take in view of city and Magnetic Isalnd

v  shuffled around the old Miner’s Cottage in CHARTERS TOWERS remembering the gold rush days

v  tracked carefully around Kronosaurus Corner in RICHMOND to observe the vast array of dinosaur relics and history there

v  rested by the campfire at the Bush Dinner in local caravan park at JULIA CREEK

v  got left behind in favour of big gum boots for a mine visit underground in MOUNT ISA

v  tip-toed around the classroom at CLONCURRY school of the air while students from far away checked in with their teacher for lessons

v  dawdled through the Lake Quarry Dinosaur Stampede near WINTON viewing the hurried tracks left in the mud by small dinosaurs fleeing a marauding monster

v  relaxed while I enjoyed breakfast in the iconic FJ Holden Café in the main street of HUGHENDEN

v  put my feet up for the TILT TRAIN trip from Townsville to Brisbane

v  pounded the Coronation Drive riverside walkway and the hilly streets of TOOWONG too many times in the name of healthy living

Where else might these shoes take me before they wear out (or I wear out)?