La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
It’s already almost 3:30 p.m. and I don’t want to miss sharing at least a little something today. Isabel was here. We were at Mesón Salvador for coffee. From there we decided to go shopping for a new ceiling light fixture for the hall between our bedroom and San Geraldo’s office. He also wants a new mirror for his bathroom. We found the light fixture. No luck with the mirror.
Driving to the shop was unpleasant. Yesterday was Constitution Day. Everything was closed. And tomorrow is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Some things will be closed but many people took a long weekend, which means this is not a good day to shop (or be on the road). Still we managed. But things were such a mess at the shopping center (kind of like a strip mall) that all we could manage for lunch was Burger King. And, OK, I’ll admit we both enjoyed it — except for the screaming kids. We’re very happy to be home — to our screaming kids who thought that 3:00 was perfectly acceptable for being served 4:30 treats.
While in London, I walked over to Harrods. It’s not what it used to be. I used to love shopping in the spacious and interesting department store. Now it’s more like walking into a claustrophobic shopping mall. Almost everything is separated by designer brand and enclosed in its own space. I hated it.
I managed to make my way to the chocolates “shop” which is more spacious than some areas of the department store, but I found it crowded and unpleasant, and divided into little shops of its own. I thought the prices were a bit absurd — and this from a chocolate lover who has paid lots of money for gourmet chocolates. I left without buying a thing.
I did, however, see a display of Schiapareli purses in a window that I found interesting. The final three-sided one below is only €6,500. It would make a great Christmas gift for any number of you and I thought of picking up several. But I couldn’t bear the thought of heading back into the labyrinth. So I stopped at a pharmacy and picked up some antacids for the 25-minute walk (with cane) back to the hotel.
Ya son casi las 15 y media y no quiero dejar de compartir al menos algo hoy. Isabel estuvo aquí. Estábamos en el Mesón Salvador para tomar un café. A partir de ahí decidimos ir a comprar una nueva lámpara de techo para el pasillo entre nuestro dormitorio y la oficina de San Geraldo. También quiere un espejo nuevo para su baño. Encontramos la lámpara. No hubo suerte con el espejo.
Conducir hasta la tienda fue desagradable. Ayer fue el Día de la Constitución. Todo estaba cerrado. Y mañana es la Fiesta de la Inmaculada Concepción. Algunas cosas estarán cerradas pero mucha gente se tomó un fin de semana largo, lo que significa que este no es un buen día para comprar (o estar de viaje). Aún así lo logramos. Pero las cosas estaban tan desordenadas en el centro comercial (algo así como un centro comercial) que lo único que pudimos conseguir para almorzar fue Burger King. Y, está bien, admito que ambos lo disfrutamos, excepto los niños que gritaban. Estamos muy felices de estar en casa, con nuestros niños que gritaban y pensaban que a las 15 era perfectamente aceptable para que les sirvieran golosinas a las 16 y media.
Mientras estuve en Londres, caminé hasta Harrods. Ya no es lo que solía ser. Me encantaba ir de compras a los espaciosos e interesantes grandes almacenes. Ahora es más como entrar en un centro comercial claustrofóbico. Casi todo está separado por marca de diseñador y encerrado en su propio espacio. Lo odiaba.
Logré llegar a la “tienda” de chocolates, que es más espaciosa que algunas zonas de los grandes almacenes, pero la encontré abarrotada y desagradable, y dividida en pequeñas tiendas propias. Pensé que los precios eran un poco absurdos, y esto lo dice un amante del chocolate que ha pagado mucho dinero por chocolates gourmet. Me fui sin comprar nada.
Sin embargo, vi una exposición de bolsos Schiapareli en un escaparate que me pareció interesante. El último de tres caras que aparece a continuación cuesta sólo 6.500 €. Sería un gran regalo de Navidad para muchos de ustedes y pensé en comprar varios. Pero no podía soportar la idea de regresar al laberinto. Así que paré en una farmacia y compré algunos antiácidos para la caminata de 25 minutos (con bastón) de regreso al hotel.
Hay una expresión en inglés: “Como cortarte la nariz para fastidiar tu cara”. (Like cutting off your nose to spite your face.) ¿Es lo mismo en español?
• Harrods bajo andamios.
• Chocolates. Capté un momento de calma entre la multitud.
• Las famosas y hermosas escaleras mecánicas que casi podía ver porque soy una cabeza más alta que la mayoría.
• Con un “forro de piel de cordero rosa impactante”. ¡Imaginar!
Click the thumbnails to enlarge.
Haz clic en las miniaturas para ampliar.
I’ve never understood the allure of designer purses. Good thing, because I’d never spend that much money on one.
Debra:
I can be extravagant and, when I was working, I did get carried away on hand-painted silk ties. But, to me, getting carried away was $100 for a tie in the 1990s. How much use do you suppose someone would get out of this purse?
I get overwhelmed quickly in specialty stores. A hundred kinds of xyz, too much. I don’t even like buffets all that much, same reason. I like your scaling back to antacids.
I don’t know how come I’m anonymous! It’s me, Liz (boud).
Liz:
I enjoy specialty stores and shopping in general. Buffets are not a favorite ever since I saw a kid standing at a buffet using his hands to get samples of all the food.
Generally I love Scarparelli….. but that handbag is truly revolting.
Mistress Borghese:
I found the handbag entertaining but the price absurd.
I’m not much of a shopper and don’t usually get into designer names. I’ll admit I like Kate Spade, though. That’s a very interesting three-sided construction.
Kelly:
Kate Spade is quality. The construction of the handbag is fun. The price is not.
So nice of you to want to surprise me with that expensive golden eye, nose, lip purse (tee hee hee), but I don’t carry handbags. I wear fanny packs.
Shirley:
I know that! That’s why I didn’t order you one. And it didn’t come in a fanny pack (which would be called a bum bag in England because a “fanny” is what’s in front… and often shaped like a fan).
Those purses are hideous! I always wonder who’s spending £6,500 on an ugly handbag. But I guess someone must be. (There’s a whole world of luxury out there I know nothing about, and I intend to keep it that way!)
My favorite thing to do in Harrods is have lunch at one of the food counters in the food halls. Oh, and I once bought a pair of running shoes there. Otherwise, it’s an alien land.
Steve:
I think the purses are entertaining but ridiculously priced. A friend of ours was always late for everything. She bought herself a purse with a giant clock face on the side. It didn’t help. But it was very funny. And she paid $34 for it! My last time in Harrah’s was in the early ’90s. What. a disappointment this time around.
A purse with a face is weird enough, but two different colored eyes? Did it lose a contact?
Kirk:
Maybe the designer has heterochromia, one brown eye and one blue eye.
I’m with the consensus – those are ugly bags! And stupid prices, too…
I haven’t set foot in Harrods for years. Not surprising, really, as it is a tourist-trap on a grand scale – or otherwise the preferred “shopping experience” of Eastern European oligarchs, Middle Eastern despots and over-paid footballers and their “WAGs“. More burkhas and plastic surgery disasters than you can shake a stick at. Jx
Jon:
Tell me how you really feel. (I won’t disagree.)
There’s a TikTok’er whose films are about “Stupid Rich People Fashion.” Those purses would fit right in. The damn thing is, she never posts anything that isn’t hideous and astronomically expensive. I am not sure I understand quite why people buy and wear/carry these things. Is it because they’re like a secret symbol to the other stupid rich people saying, “I’m one of you!” A sort of secret handshake of identification? I do not know. But I do know that they don’t buy these things because they are attractive.
So I hope you did not get me one of those bags for Christmas.
Ms. Moon
Ms. Moon:
I think you have summed it up. “Look what I can afford!” Fortunately, I had already sussed out your tastes and knew you would find the purse offensive. So no Schiapareli for you.
A classic design that is of high quality that will last for years is understandable when cost per wear is calculated, but designer labels are overpriced crap most of the time. And it seems like the uglier or tackier it is, the higher the price tag. Some people have more money than brains, I guess.
Besides, I’d rather be gifted chocolate or your email so I can share funny memes with you like I do with Mistress Maddie and Debra She Who Seeks!
Tundra Bunny:
I agree with you completely about the designer labels. Do you have my email? If not, I’ll get it to you!
No, I don’t have your email, but you must have mine since I sign in with it to comment!
Tundra Bunny:
You’re so clever! Got it!
I like the purse with the pink lambskin lining … the faces put me off a bit.
I’m also dismayed at you leaving a chocolate store with nary a chocolate in your bag.
What has become of the world?
Bob:
The chocolate “department” gave me a panic attack. I bought Lindt chocolate when I got home. (It’s gone… and SG ate it all.)
Oh, I really enjoyed the food hall at Harrod’s 🙂
Judy C:
The entire place just gave me anxiety this time. It was worse than a first visit to the IKEA maze.
So, being ‘practical’ how does one carry a handbag with 3 handles at 60 degree angles to each other? Could you demonstate?
Karen:
You know, I hadn’t even thought of that. And, now that I look at it again, I wonder, too!
Thanks for showing us this, the photos are overwhelming.
David:
If only my foot hadn’t been so bad. I love wandering the city.
To judge by the handles, I would say the purse was designed for people from Omicron Ceti 8.
wickedhamster:
Would they pay that much?
The last time I bothered going in Harrod’s was in the 1990s when, during January sales, I bought two pair of exquisite Bally loafers for about $75 a pair. Today, they cost around $600+. But no need to buy any now as even 30 years later the shoes are still in great condition. Also still have the beautiful Swiss lace christening gown my mother bought there 50 years ago for my first born and which was subsequently worn by the rest of my children and grandchildren. But that was then. Refused to go in Horrid Harrods now.
PS—back in ABQ this week…
Mary:
Bally loafers at $75! That’s nice. My first time in Harrods was so much fun. After this time, I’m like you. Never again.
What a (Catholic) country to be closed in the Day of the Immaculate Conception.
Urspo:
And very inconsistent. There’s absolutely no question of the separation of church and state. Religion can play no part in government. So a Catholic country of sorts that’s less religious, judgmental, and puritanical than the USA.
I’ve never been to Harrods and now it’s ruined before I’ve even arrived. I can’t believe you didn’t buy that bag for me.
Love,
Janie
janiejunebug:
Sorry I didn’t get you the bag… or all three. Also sorry if I’ve ruined Harrods for you. I won’t be going back.