LONDON-The capital of England and the UK, goes back to its founding by the Romans. The old city largely retains its 1.12 sq mile medieval boundaries but when one adds the new areas the city boasts 1.18 million people and 21 million in the greater metro area. I am sure I saw half of them today. London is truly a leading global city- not only a leading financial Mecca, it is the world's most visited city as measured by international arrivals. Hello Bubba and Boca. Remember London in the
'mid 60s? Swinging London, Carnaby Street, bell bottoms, Courageous Boots, the Rolling Stones and Beatles- all exemplified by the youth culture. I remember being here in during my college days in 1972 and eating at the original HARD ROCK CAFE. Yes, in my hip huggers. Imagine that.
There are lots of World Heritage sites (Tower of London, Westminster Abbey) and loads of famous landmarks (Queenie's pad over at Buckingham Palace, Piccadilly Circus (and it is), Trafalgar Square and my personal favorite HARRODS! Bubs is praying I forgot the Plat. Am Ex Card. Yeah, keep that dream alive ol'Bloke. The store occupies a 5 acre site and has over 1 million sq feet of stuff- making it the biggest department store in Europe. And do you know who owns it now? Qatar Holdings. Who knew there were 2 Mecca's?
Nothing like Harrods on a rainy day in London- field trip to meet my Silverseas gals- Lady Anne from Blue Hills Garden in Barnet (Bubs will have to give a name to his tomato patch) and Lady Barbara from Caberfeidh House in Inverness as in Scotland (note to self, change Casa Duh Bubba's name post haste).
GRRRRRRRRRRL POWER!
Time to move on Boca, there are 300 departments to have a go at. Ah, girls, let's feed the Bubba up at the Lebanese Restaurant first. While I am sans burka we want to get him all fed up before he gets all fed up tagging along shopping. And did you know Harrods had a dress code until 1989? No mohawk hairdos, no fat ladies and no track suits. The only thing keeping you out today are: cycling shorts, swimwear, beach shorts, flip flops and if you are excessively sweaty. Goats and camels allowed.
First stop for Boca is Harrods very own Apple Store...help help. I have an IPAD and I can't figure out how to Blog on it. When the techies stopped laughing, they tried and tried to get Boca and her Blog on the road. A for effort? Shoulda brought the damn lap top. No time to learn new tricks and new machine. Shoulda learned this stuff back home....duh.
and Boca's favorite The Food Emporium- nothing like it on the planet.
Brilliantly displayed...
...retail theater at its best.....
Bubba eyeballing Boca's fav, the caviar...don't even think about it Boca.
Bub's sticker shock is amusing to the clerks...ah another "Merican learning about our Crown Sterling".
Nothing like some middle eastern dates....no I meant the fruit.
And I love the story about Asma al-Assad, the wife of the President of Syria, using an alias to shop at Harrods despite economic sanctions imposed by the European Union that froze funds to her and her husband. Ah, our very own Arab Imelda Marcos?
Yes by all means order Waga special beef- makes Kobe beef look like dog food- 33 pounds per 4 oz which means for a pound of this meat on your plate = $231 USD a pound. MMMM
And Ann gives a sniff to the sensational seafood.....
and the beautiful bouquet was a mere $175
But Bubba's all time favorite was the watermelon- from Morocco- a mere $80. He is still spinning about that one! It's all about the pound baby- or one could say the value of the buck. And we're not talking about deer, dear. Yup, Harrods still astonishing and intriguing customers from around the world.
