This week's theme is street sellers. Pictured is a Chinese man who will make a pair of shoes while you wait:
When your shoes are finished and you've walked in them a bit, you'll need to have them shined. No problem - anywhere you go in the world, you'll find a shoeshine boy on the street just waiting to accommodate you. This photo is from a trip I took to Rio in 1970.
But where are all the shoeshine boys? All those chairs at the ready and only one boy has shown up. I have a feeling the boy having his shoes shined is a shill trying to entice some real customers.
Here's a video I found that goes along with the theme quite nicely:
Remember to keep your shoes shined. Give these boys a break.
Walk along the street and find other tales of street-side marketers at Sepia Saturday.
I love your photo. I haven't seen any shoeshine boys on the street here.
ReplyDeleteNo shoe shine boys here either - everyone wears sandals and beach shoes! All those empty chairs - poor boy. Some of the images in the video are quite moving, and there’s one that matches the prompt picture perfectly.
ReplyDeleteNo shoe shine boys in Tuolumne County, either. Most shoes worn here are sandals, athletic shoes, or boots & everyone polishes or washes their own,
ReplyDeleteI've seen shoe shiners in Asian airports recently but nowhere else. I guess we don't care about shiny shoes anymore unless you're in the military. I love your photo and the video.
ReplyDeleteIt's a charming photo, but I think it's a sign that this sort of business will be harder and harder to make a go of. I'd certainly like to join the experience but (a) we never see shoe shiners here, and (b) I hardly ever wear shoes that need to be shined.
ReplyDeleteMy shoes definitely need a shine but I'll have to do it myself, I fear.
ReplyDeleteOne of my abiding memories of Mexico City was being accosted bt the shoe shine boys every time you left the hotel. Never seen on in the UK.
ReplyDeleteWe don't see shoeshine people here though I've seen them overseas...can't say I've used them though.
ReplyDeleteFunny to be reading about shoeshine boys today. My husband and I were at the airport last night and saw a line of shoeshine boys with men actually getting their shoes shined. It seems most people are traveling in tennis shoes and flip flops, so I was glad to know the shoeshiners still have potential customers at the airport.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great photo from Rio! I gotta get a hold of all those photos when I come home for xmas. Break out the slide projector!
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