What A Cobbler Taught Me About Mobility

What A Cobbler Taught Me About Mobility

An experienced cobbler heeling footwear by hand at his shop.



getty

When I moved to Germany from Detroit, over 10 years ago, I was excited to step into a society steeped in centuries of history. But when I heard the question “have you found a good cobbler yet?” it felt like I had somehow ended up in the pages of a Victorian era novel.

Fast-forward 3 months and this seemingly strange question finally made sense. In my first winter in Munich I walked so much that, for the first time, my daily commute had resulted in me walking right through the soles of my shoes. A situation I never experienced in my last 44 years of life. While this may seem trivial, it