Made for Walkin'?

I am fascinated by how often, how far, and how fast Swedes walk. In the States, my friends know me as a person who prefers to walk whenever possible, and most people consider me a fast walker. Even on the streets of New York I tend to breeze past people, because I view walking as a mode of transportation—I'm not just out for a stroll, I'm trying to get somewhere. (So get out of the way, already.)

But an average Swede puts even the most ambitious New York walker to shame. On a nice day, people think nothing of walking an hour across town to get somewhere. And if someone says, "Oh, it's not far, you can walk there," you can bet that you'll be walking at least a mile and a half.

The other day, I went for a walk with a friend along a paved trail through the woods near our neighborhood (yes, there are woods near our neighborhood). We were a good 20 minutes from the city by foot, and suddenly there was a bar and restaurant. I'm pretty sure there was no access to this place by motorized vehicle at all, and yet, it's a really popular restaurant. This would never happen in the U.S., unless you count ski resort bars halfway up a mountain (which can always be accessed by chairlift).

So, my footwear situation is in total disarray. I tend to choose shoes that are both stylish and comfortable, but when I say "comfortable," I mean "okay for walking a few blocks at lunch but mostly made for looking good while seated." I've been watching the footwear of Swedish women, and although there are some intrepid (or stupid) souls on the street in stilettos, most ladies get around in flats, cute sneakers (Chucks, mostly), or low-heeled boots. I don't even see too many heels at the office, which is a real departure from New York style. I guess if you're taking the train or a cab, heels work just fine, but since I live downtown, I rarely do that.

But I discovered today that I may be walking farther than necessary just because I don't really know the quickest routes yet. For instance, I described a harrowing three-hour walk to and from Östermalm to my Swedish teacher and he laughed at me and said I could have gotten there in 30 minutes if I had gone a smarter way. Luckily, I was at least wearing great walking shoes... These MBT rockers are my best friends in Sweden. They're hideous-looking, but they're supposed to mimic the way a bare foot travels across the ground, with a rocking motion that reduces impact. MBTs have sort of a cultish following of devotees who swear they also firm your abs and improve circulation in your legs, thereby reducing cellulite. Whatever—I'm not sure I've seen any evidence of that, but they're supercomfy and they take the strain off my knees and back, so I always wear them when I know I'll be out walking for a while. I'm thinking of giving my dad (who has a very bad back) a pair for when he comes to visit. What do you think, would you wear them, Dad?