I'm kind of a laid-back person. I like to get dressed up to go out somewhere fancy every once in a while, but for the most part, I like comfort. And since much of this trip was to be spent outside the fashion-conscious cities of Santiago and Buenos Aires, I opted for hiking shoes and my stinky flip-flops that have travelled with me from Casablanca to Vietnam. So when I got to Buenos Aires, and was slammed by 90-degree heat, and surrounded by chic portenos in their little sandals and Bermuda shorts, I felt more than a bit underdressed. Good thing there are clothing stores everwhere, and shoe stores by the dozen. I opted for something simple, black sandal thongs to replace the stinky flip-flops that were wearing thin anyway. I slid them on and instantly felt more chic. In the basura went the old pair, and I sauntered down Florida Avenue. I'd forgotten that fashion and vanity comes with a price: blisters. Throwing away those old stinky flops was a big mistake... Lesson learned.