By C.K.

January 4, 2024

Here and There (Experiences traveling abroad while barefoot)

My wife and I just returned from a 2 month trip through the Caribbean and Brazil. As usual, I was barefoot. My wife does not do the same but has always supported me. Other people may have very different experiences. I’m a believer in the “Don’t ask first” approach and dressing well. Age may be a factor in reactions – I’m 80 this year. I have tattoos on the top of my feet that resemble sandals. Many people take a quick glance and assume that I am not barefoot. For what it is worth here are the experiences I had in various places.

Puerto Rico: We have spent considerable time here on multiple visits. Walking the streets, poking around in shops, eating in restaurants both ordinary and more formal, touring National Parks, hotels, taxis and churches have all been trouble-free. Friendly comments or questions are sometimes asked but I have never had a negative experience.

St. Barts: This French territory seems to cater primarily to wealthy yatch owners. I had no problems or comments at Customs/Immigration, on the street or in the small but expensive shops. I did see one barefoot local walking on the street so perhaps it is generally acceptable. We were not in St. Barts long enough to really get a sense of the place.

Martinique: Another French territory and again no problems at Customs/Immigration. Martinique is a more typical Caribbean island with many little businesses and restaurants. We were welcomed everywhere. A few curious friendly questions, a few bemused looks but nothing negative. Some of the streets do not have sidewalks so pedestrians and cars share the narrow roads. The sidewalks that do exist are often uneven, cracked or broken and are a hazard to bare feet.

Brazil: We spent time in several small towns along the Amazon river with no issues. We spent the most time in Manuas, a large city. I wandered through markets, museums, the famous Opera House, shops, an experimental farm and took some public transportation. A surprising number of people were overly concerned that I might injure myself. They have a point! This large city has no street cleaners and garbage is on most streets and sidewalks. Broken beer bottles were numerous and not always visible in the general debris. Puddles of foul smelling liquids are common. Outside walking requires attention and care.

I did have one amusing incident. A tourist with a thick German accent asked to take a close photo of my feet. He claimed to be fascinated with the tattoos and said he had never seen anything similar. Who knows?

Trinidad: I had more questions and comments here than in any other place I’ve been. Taxi drivers, shopkeepers, people in the parks and bus stops, waiters and librarians all seemed concerned that I might injure myself. Nothing negative anywhere. I noted that most of the people I saw wore only flipflops that were as close to barefoot as possible but I saw no other barefooters. Only Customs/Immigration had nothing to say. Walking in Trinidad was very pleasant and comfortable but the constant “Why are you barefoot?” was strange on a tropical island.

Dominica: No issues at Customs/Immigration. This small independent country has a completely different vibe from Trinidad. In most shops, restaurants, parks, taxis and so on I had no comments or questions at all. When I was asked, the Dominicans phrased things differently. Instead of “Why are you barefoot?” I would be asked, “Are you always barefoot?” I saw no other barefoot adults here but I left with the impression that I was unusual in the same way I might have been if I was wearing a cowboy hat.

British Virgin Islands: When we arrived here my initial impression was that if I would have any problem on this trip this would be the place. Unlike all the other places, with their tropical ramshackle and laid back looks, the BVI is neat, orderly and organized. It looks more like a village in England than a tropical place.

I got the ‘look’ at Customs/Immigration but no comments. Stepping out to the sidewalk, we saw almost no pedestrians and little traffic on the wide roads. Everything was neat and clean. My wife had been asked to find a certain perfume for a friend and the first shop we saw sold expensive perfume. At the door, we were greeted by an elegant young woman. I watched her eyes go down to my feet. “Oh, I love those tattoos!” The BVI was looking better by the minute. Later we entered shops, a book store, ate in a nice restaurant, poked around in a pharmacy, wandered through an art gallery and walked the streets. Not one other comment anywhere.

Throughout this long trip, I was never refused entrance or service at any place. Each stop was for a day or two and may be too short (except for Puerto Rico) to really find out if my experiences are typical. Based on my experiences, I encourage any barefooter to visit these places without worrying about the reception they can expect.