Shoe Recommendations

Apparently my daughter isn't the only one in the group with a shoe fetish ; ) so, in case it's useful to anyone else, here's what I have recommended to her about shoes to take:

First, be aware that Mussoorie is a harsh environment for clothing - if the monsoon is particularly fierce, shoes can get moldy sitting in a closet! So you don't want to bring any really expensive or delicate clothing.

I have suggested the following to Ross:

• one pair of heels for fancy occasions, but not your nicest ones, and preferably something you have some hope of being able to walk in on a steep hillside path
  
• several pairs of shoes that are comfortable for walking, including hiking boots, and more than one pair of sneakers.
  
• since they'll be there for much of the winter than we ever were, warm boots are probably indicated - Uggs, maybe? (bring the spray to waterproof them)
  
• a pair of dressy flats
• warm slippers for the dorms
  
• flat sandals, possibly dressy. You can also buy these in Delhi - Indian women, and men for that matter, wear sandals for much of the year, and, given the climate, dressy sandals are acceptable for most fancy occasions. You can also get the famous "Roman sandals" or "Woodstock sandals" made in Mussoorie - unisex, sturdy, and comfortable, a Woodstock tradition since I don't know when.
  
• Crocs

The Crocs are new to Ross. I saw them in the US in March (they're very popular in Colorado, don't know about anywhere else) and my friends suggested I should buy them for her, but I thought Ross wouldn't be caught dead in them. Then she saw the equivalent "Trellos" in the Lands' End catalog - and wanted them! So I bought them on my May trip.They should be perfect for the monsoon because they're waterproof, but your feet don't slip out of them as they do with rubber thong sandals (called chappals in India).

Rubber chappals are very useful to have, but you can easily buy them in Mussoorie. Same goes for flashlights.