So, I’m fairly tall, even for a gringa. Living here, most of the time I find that I am the tallest woman in any room (as long as there are no Dutch around, Christ those Dutch are a tall people). I’m 5’9 and wear a shoe size 8.5 US or size 9 if I’m wearing heeled dress shoes. Whenever I’ve told my Mexican friends that I wear a Mexican size 27, they audibly gasp. For real. They gasp, and sometimes make the sign of the cross and say, “Dios mio!”
What this translates to is that in 3.5 years, I have NEVER found a pair of shoes that will fit me. I’ve found one pair of flip-flops that almost fit me, but no “real” shoes, and certainly none of the cutie pie girlie shoes in the store windows that I longingly eyeball as I walk past with my giant’s feet.
While shopping last week, I saw a pair of tiny shoes, red fake patent leather pumps with a high heel and a little buckle on their peep-toes and despite what I know about my Yeti feet, my heart fluttered. My poor, barren heart could not help itself. There was just one pair sitting among the plates and pans, so after running my finger along their shiny insoles, I put them out of my mind.
Imagine my complete shock an hour later, when I passed an end-cap display with boxes of these shoes, one of which, incredibly, was marked size 27. My hands trembled as I removed the shoebox lid and peeked inside; therein I saw the shoes. They were red and shiny. There was one left shoe and one right shoe, and both of them were the same size. The sign indicated they were 288 pesos (holy crap, that is like 28 bucks!). I knew they were not great shoes; in fact, they’re made by frickin’ CHEROKEE and they’re cheap as shit, but THEY FIT ME!!
I furtively looked from left to right and twirled my fingers together like a villain with a handlebar mustache plotting evil in a silent movie. I put the shoes in my cart and raced to the cashier. When she tried to ring up the shoes, her scanner beeped, but no price came up. I visibly flinched. In the US, when you get an item that hasn’t been entered into the cashier’s system, a quick phone call or a flashing light requesting assistance is all it will take to get the price check. Not so in Mexico. Here, when an item is scanned and no price comes up, the cashier shrugs and puts it aside, and you can’t buy it. You’ll have to come back another day, amiga.
Well, I wasn’t having it. I ran back and grabbed 4 more pairs of these shoes in other sizes, but NONE of them rang up properly. Finally, she told me, “Sorry, these have no code, I can’t ring them in.”
I looked beseechingly in her eyes and said, “Senorita, you don’t understand. I have lived here for almost 4 years. I have very big feet. These are the first pair of shoes I have ever found that have fit me. I love them. I need them. I won’t leave this store without them.”
She must have seen the madness in my eyes because she got the manager. Together, they found a way to ring up my shoes, and I carried them home, hearing Katrina and the Waves in my head the whole way.
Incidentally, these shoes were found at Comercial Mexicana, or Mega. That’s right, the GROCERY STORE. Put that in your Jimmy Choo pipe and smoke it.
Thank you, Heather… for being a good Heather.
By: Jerry on December 14, 2007
at 2:07 am
So, when do we get cheesecake pix of you actually WEARING the shoes, eh…?
*twirling my fingers together like a villain with a handlebar mustache plotting evil in a silent movie*
By: metrotrucker on December 14, 2007
at 5:11 am
I’m walking on Sunshine….Thanks for my song of the day as I slide my truck to the bar to clear the 3 inches of ice with rock salt…
By: Cassie on December 14, 2007
at 9:12 am
Don’t be dissing the Cherokee shoes, I have been buying the same pair of Cherokee clogs at Target for four years now. When they stop making these babies I’m gonna cry. When we get to Playa in Feb, if we take you out for drinks, will you wear the cha cha shoes?
By: Jan on December 14, 2007
at 9:18 am
In case anyone was wondering, I didn’t sleep with those shoes the night I bought them, the way I used to sleep with a new baseball bat or mitt when I was a kid.
I wanted to, but Michael said no. He never lets me do anything.
By: heatherinparadise on December 14, 2007
at 9:57 am
I can relate to all of what you have said. I love shoes and it can be difficult…probably more difficult since you are in Playa. Congratulations! What a victory!!! And way to stick to your guns and not give up.
I remember when I moved here for 3 months and needed to buy a pillow. There was no tag to be scanned and the girl said something to me in Spanish and I just stared at her like an idiot. She took the pillow and put it to the side and I was like???? Ok, guess I don’t get to sleep with a pillow tonight! The sad part is I didn’t. I felt so dang stupid and just left!
Such defeat.
By: Elizabeth on December 14, 2007
at 10:46 am
Great post and fab red shoes. Every girl needs red shoes.
Shoes I have no problem with here, but don’t get me started on bras and bikinis, fugedaboutit! Impossible, all my breast holders have to be imported.
By: CancunCanuck on December 14, 2007
at 11:36 am
I can’t get bras here, either. I can NEVER find C cups…what do women do here, cram their boobs into B cups? Very frustrating.
By: heatherinparadise on December 14, 2007
at 11:50 am
You mean you’ve never seen anything crammed into something wayyyy to small here before? LOL
By: Elizabeth on December 14, 2007
at 12:48 pm
You’re 5’9″ and wear an 8.5 to a 9? I’m just over 5’6″ and wear the same size as you. Looks to me like you have a petite foot, princess.
By: charmarie221 on December 14, 2007
at 4:07 pm
My favorite part of the whole post were the various poses the shoes made. Quite sassy.
I remember once finding a pair of Birks at the Costco for $420. I was stoked and bought them as they were very cute. I got them home and priced them online and they sold for $85 US in the States. So though it’s a strong possibility that they are fakes, they sure don’t wear like fakes, look like fakes or feel like fakes. It was a rare event, but I don’t think I ever really looked for shoes past that while I was there.
Congrats on your find! Merry Christmas to YOU!
By: Joyce on December 14, 2007
at 8:34 pm
great..damn…..story!!!!!!I love the way you posed the shoes too!!Be careful tho….you remember about the red shoes…..put them on and dance til you drop!!
By: donna on December 14, 2007
at 9:02 pm
Your new shoes are loverly. If it makes you feel any better, I am shorter than you (5’7″) and have *bigger* feet (9-9 1/2). My wicked stepsister feet. However, there are lots of options for bigfoot ladies around here.
Also wanted to note – in one of my magazines there’s an article about how red shoes are all the thing this winter. It’s all super-trendy to pair them with a black or muted dress. You are so fashion forward! Go, Heather, go!
By: Julie A. on December 15, 2007
at 7:26 am
It’s not that I think my feet are big, they really are pretty normal for American women…they’re just big HERE.
By: heatherinparadise on December 15, 2007
at 8:02 am
Hey Heather!
I just read the comments you left on my blog? Did you know about the whole Hooters thing (meaning I hate the place because of something bad that happened) or was it just a shot in the dark? LOL.
Anyhoo glad you’re reading my blog. I’m going to drop a shout out to you in a bit. Prepare for more readers!
By: Elizabeth on December 15, 2007
at 8:39 am
Heather!
I enjoyed reading about your shoe-buying expedition. I am so happy that you were successful in finding treasure!
I have size ten Chewbacca feet. I look at pumps and just sigh. I have been wearing Dansko clogs for the past fours years. I kind of feel like Clementine. LOL.
By: Alicia on December 15, 2007
at 1:11 pm
I’m so glad you found shoes! So funny. I did enjoy the various shots of the shoes.
When my favorite clothing store in Mexico closed (can’t even remember the name now, it’s been so long), I resigned myself to buying clothes only when I returned to the States for vacation. Alas, finding something like your shoes (or my Calvin Klein jeans at Sam’s Club for 250 pesos after the lady at teh laundromat had stolen my only pair of jeans) can make you giddy for weeks!
Wear them well and jauntily! Just not in the rain..that’s a sure way to f%ck ‘em up super fast!
By: gabachayucateca on December 17, 2007
at 10:17 am
Your talent never hesitates to amaze me. I am glad the chica called the manager…more glad you got the shoes. Did you at least wear them home???
By: Aim on December 17, 2007
at 8:56 pm
Very cute! If I had a way to get you all the pairs of shoes I don’t wear enough I would. I thought for sure when you left after my wedding I’d go into my closet to find it empty.
By: teetle on December 18, 2007
at 12:29 am
Hey Heather, nice to blog-meet you! My son has size 13 feet here in Costa Rica… there are NO size 13 shoes. Big problem when they required brown shoes for one of the schools we tried out before ditching them because no one learns anything in school here except how to pilfer. Looking forward to reading more of your blog – happy holidays!
By: Saratica on December 18, 2007
at 9:42 am
damn girl, I LOVE you
By: lizzy on December 19, 2007
at 2:05 am
Hope you bought six extra pairs, too.
Well, you never know, and you could always dye them different colours, right ?
By: Roads on December 19, 2007
at 9:48 am
Size 9 here. I hear you. Never owned a Mexican made shoe. Never will.
And the bras- don’t get me started. After my bra committed suicide in Playa this time I had to shop for one. While the size wasn’t the problem for me the designs that were available were. I had nightmares for a week after, dreaming of huge bras that were chasing me through the streets of Playa.
By: Joana on December 25, 2007
at 2:12 pm
Oh Heather, you have so screwed me up. After you started the blog thread, I spent some time on Leasa’s blog. And of course what she’s going through now … man.
But then I start cruisin’ around yours and crap, you are seriously impacting my free time. I can only say it’s a good thing I’m retired.
I (almost) never even laugh out loud at the TV, but your red shoe story. OMG!
love what you’re doing!
Caroline
By: Caroline on January 5, 2008
at 12:07 pm
Another great read!! I’m a nine too. I’m bringing you a little red purse to match those shoes. It’s never been used…..I just couldn’t pull the “red shoe/purse look” off! Thanks for sharing your stories, they are well worth sharing!!!
By: Maureen on January 7, 2008
at 10:12 pm
What country can we visit to feel petite?
By: Cassie on January 11, 2008
at 10:38 am
Cassie, I don’t know…maybe Samoa?
By: heatherinparadise on January 11, 2008
at 1:43 pm