There's No Place Like .....

Dorothy clicked her ruby red shoe heels together and said three times...

There's no place like....

THE BATA SHOE MUSEUM!

Today mum and I did some exploring in Toronto. It was POURING rain so we had to find something to do indoors. We took the subway to The Bata Shoe Museum to see for ourselves what the tour guide on our sightseeing tour had been talking about.

What a cool place!

If you like shoes (and I mean really, who doesn't like shoes???) this is the place to go!

There was so much to see and to learn about! They have so many shoes in this place from really ancient ones to crazy, colourful ones, from celebrity shoes to a room full of sneakers!!!!

Here are some of the highlights from my visit....

Old shoes

From India

Look at these "heels"!!!!!

 These might look like doll shoes, but they are actually tiny shoes from China. Women used to bind their feet to make them really small. They were called "lotus feet" and the smaller, the better. Their bones would actually become misshapen and I am sure it was very painful. 

RELIGIOUS SHOES!

 The Pope's shoes! He is the only one in the Catholic Church who is allowed to wear red, velvet shoes AND the only one who can wear crosses on his shoes. 

ENVIRONMENTAL SHOES!

This picture is for my sister, Tay. Hindus and Buddhists practice something called AHIMSA which is avoiding causing harm. These shoes called PADUKA are made on platforms like this to reduce the risk of injury to insects and microscopic life by keeping the sole of the shoe off of the ground!  My sister is CRAZY about not causing harm to insects and animals. She always makes us walk around ants and bugs on the sidewalks!!!!! She needs a pair of these shoes!!!!! :D 

 So, my sister and I found a really great use for hair when we did our Share Your Hair Project. We learned that hair can be used to make booms to soak up oil from the water. Who knew you could use hair (and Emu feathers) to make shoes with? 

SKATES!

 

A really, really old pair of skates. I think these are so cool!

DOG BOOTS!

 

We can't forget our four legged friends! They have 4 feet to keep comfortable and fashionable! But who knew that doggie boots were around in the 1950's? I thought trendy dogs were a new thing! Good to know dogs have been looking PAWSITIVELY fashionable for a long time! :D 

FAMOUS FOOTWEAR

 Napoleon Bonaparte's socks! For a really short man, he sure had big feet! :D 

 Marilyn Monroe's red shoes! AWESOME!

Elvis Presley's shoes! Cool! 

And for all of my friends who have Bieber fever (I'm talking to you, Syd!) here are Justin Bieber's purple sneakers! 

 Ballet pointe shoes worn by Dame Margot Fonteyn who was one of the greatest ballerinas of all time. She was actually appointed Prima Ballerina Assoluta of the Royal Ballet by Queen Elizabeth II. 

 The Dalai Lama's sandals. I'm surprised they aren't PADUKA! 

 These are Queen Victoria's shoes. She wore them the year she married Prince Albert. They are REALLY small! She had tiny feet! 

 The shoe museum also has cool windows! I love the colours! I think this would make a good sneaker design! 

AND ON TO THE SNEAKERS! 

Puma made the first computer shoes! These shoes have a chip in the back that track distance and time and speed! They're from the 80's.  

SO MANY COOL SNEAKER DESIGNS!

 I think these were my favourites!

Of course, the best part was trying on some of the funky fashions! I like these leopard print platforms!

And these Elton John style sparkly platforms are SO PERFECT!

After the shoe museum, we stopped to have a real french crepe. Mine was dark chocolate and strawberries! DELICIOUS! This was a fun and educational day!

But of course, the only way to finish off a day at the shoe museum is to go...

SHOE SHOPPING!!!

PLEEEEEEEEEASE MUMMMMMY????????????