A dear travel companion left me at the weekend.
After 5 years of being practically inseparable, a Friday
night party in West London proved to be our undoing.
Together we’d seen the wonders of Europe, the great
pyramids of Egypt, trekked across America and explored the cities and outback
of Australia.
Not only that, but you supported me through my day to day
life in New Zealand, at work or play, rain or shine, and continued to do so in
London.
Flip-flops,
thongs, sandals, whatever others call them to me you were simply ‘my jandals’
and you were the most true and loyal friend.
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mHeWmMHZ8Sk/UCpz7TErVRI/AAAAAAAAFsI/ETqq_ZmU7mI/s320/Lucca+2012.jpg) |
Our last outing: Italy 2012 |
Some travellers prefer sneakers or Birkenstocks, but for
me nothing can beat a good pair of rubber jandals. With the cool breeze and
warm sun on your feet, no other footwear screams ‘holiday’ quite like them.
You can get them wet or dirty, they have fantastic grip,
and there’s no need to worry about that rather uncomfortable sensation of
getting sand or stones in your shoes.
I find them the perfect piece for all destinations from
beach to the bar and everywhere in-between. The only time they might cause you
trouble is when the temperatures drop and things get a little chilly (under no
circumstances may socks be worn underneath).
Our last outing was in early August 2012, when we spent a
steamy five days in Italy visiting Lucca and Cinque Terre.
You carried me along ancient cobbled streets, up
seemingly endless steps and around stunning cliff-side trails through scorching
30-something⁰C
temperatures and never once let me down.
Thanks to the endless sunshine I’ve been left with a special
reminder of our time together in the form of a set of tan lines.
I’ll always remember the good times.
Goodbye baby blue Havaianas, we had a great ride. For my
next pair I’m thinking navy.
My Jandals & Me: Through the Years
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-99tRmlOrduE/UCp0YCAk_8I/AAAAAAAAFtw/MYkSgmBBejc/s320/Sydney+NYE+2007.jpg) |
Sydney 2007 |
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g4I2YW9AuSM/UCp0QE2UqnI/AAAAAAAAFsg/kewrPEXP8WM/s320/Dubrovnik+2008.jpg) |
Dubrovnik 2008 |
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X5w6Qr4TVME/UCp0OsdPmZI/AAAAAAAAFsQ/8cgGjzlPUTM/s320/Athens+2008.jpg) |
Athens, Greece 2008 |
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GBM9STlCHR4/UCp0Y2RkmnI/AAAAAAAAFt4/oI76fUWRLoY/s320/Theater+at+Epidaurus+Greece+2008.jpg) |
Theatre at Epidaurus, Greece 2008 |
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IwjWDkwBPfs/UCp0ZYMnFaI/AAAAAAAAFt8/PWBBNjB5qQc/s320/White+Sands+National+Monument+New+Mexico.jpg) |
White Sands National Monument, New Mexico, USA 2010 |
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-njrvtmQzTV4/UCp0TcT5sdI/AAAAAAAAFtE/3LhFXl3MsGY/s320/Galverston+Texas+2010.jpg) |
Galveston, Texas, USA 2010 |
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--X3GVbtpn2w/UCp0S8I9W3I/AAAAAAAAFs8/4J3zYIXHYVg/s320/Florida+2010.jpg) |
Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA 2010
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NvU_AGpRzvg/UCp0UL7uiYI/AAAAAAAAFtI/bSQl74uWr6g/s320/MOMA+NYC+2010.jpg) |
MOMA, New York City, USA 2010 |
|
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2_RN8B_LN-g/UCp0P6TNMfI/AAAAAAAAFsc/gNCh9LMUaqc/s320/Canada+2010.jpg) |
Canada 2010 |
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XmFNfPfwdbY/UCp0UmK1NhI/AAAAAAAAFtU/3P_LM6yrJs4/s320/Niagara+Falls.jpg) |
Niagara Falls 2010 |
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BFVRb1101KQ/UCp0XvHba0I/AAAAAAAAFto/GVeZNTMhBK0/s320/Stone+circle+Avebury+2011.jpg) |
Stone Circle, Avebury, UK 2011 |
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zJc08gk-JdI/UCp0PcnjC4I/AAAAAAAAFsY/aOWFkiaLymo/s320/Burano+Venice+2011.jpg) |
Burano, Venice, Italy 2011 |
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mZcu0hMdF28/UCp0OxNcDhI/AAAAAAAAFsU/VkP2SXuWSvE/s320/Brighton+2011.jpg) |
Brighton, UK 2011 |
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4t_ZDfmbpvc/UCp0RBiIaQI/AAAAAAAAFsw/pF58Otjq8L0/s320/Egypt+2011.jpg) |
Kom Ombo, Egypt 2011 |
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2D0ymw2ZQ5I/UCp0QuLiUmI/AAAAAAAAFso/nfBEGlipMIQ/s320/Egypt+2.jpg) |
Temple of Horus, Egypt 2011 |
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9fUjrA43xSA/UCp0XJQla9I/AAAAAAAAFtk/5OeThmIPbME/s320/Step+Pyramid+Egypt+2011.jpg) |
Step Pyramid, Saqqara, Egypt 2011 |
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p-oQ8WZLkEQ/UCp3IWfCvoI/AAAAAAAAFus/bacSFOVqfxU/s320/Old+Trafford.jpg) |
Old Trafford, Manchester, UK 2012 |