Underwear, energy conservation, and the economy

Yesterday as we were walking to Multi Culti for dinner, we passed an enormous department store, Besser Karstadt. Peering through the windows as we passed by, I spotted a Bobbi Brown makeup counter and felt the planets align. Must. Go. Inside.

For nine months now, I’ve been trying to buy cream blush and not found it. Granted, I’ve avoided the Paris Ici cosmetic store in Brussels simply because while I’m sure Dior or Chanel offer crème rouge, I was quite sure I didn’t want to pay $50 for it. Still, I hadn’t found an inexpensive alternative in the discount stores or pharmacies.

Then I read in one of my chick mags that Bobbi Brown had a new cream blush out that got rave reviews. I checked it out on Neiman Marcus online, wrote down the color I wanted, and debated having a friend hunt it down for me in the States. This is why spotting the Bobbi Brown counter in Karlsruhe seemed too good to be true. There are only a handful of stores in all of Europe that carry that line. Going inside was my destiny.

Fifteen minutes later, I had my blush plus a bottle of Bobbi’s “Beach” body lotion to mentally take me to the coast with its Coppertone-kissed-saltwater fragrance. I also had a major crush on the Karstadt store, which had three floors to explore. Must. See. Everything.

This morning I went back. I bought a great straw hat and a basic sun visor, a deep red patterned silk scarf, and the ultimate souvenir from the Land of Comfortable Shoes—a pair of Birkenstocks, my first. Of course I couldn’t get a basic brown pair of Arizonas—no I went for a three-strap pair of Papillio’s in a wild green, pink, blue, and yellow mod print. In the U.S. these probably would have set me back somewhere in the vicinity of $85. Here I paid less than $30 on sale. (When E went to Australia last fall, he bought me Ugg slippers. Retail price in the U.S. was about $80. In Sydney, they were less than $30.)

I bought the kids giant supersoakers and big lollipops and a small doodad each. We did our best to stimulate the German economy today.

***

Environmentalism is big here. Germany is a “green” country. There are loads of wind turbines, bicycles everywhere and extensive public transit. The light fixtures in the hotel have those squiggly fluorescent light bulbs that emit a traditional warm incandescent light. The water-saving showerhead transforms a trickle of water in the tub faucet to a full-force shower spray with the push of the button. Amazing. There are recycling bins everywhere and efforts to reduce packaging and waste.

When is the U.S. going to get serious about reducing energy and oil consumption? How bad do things have to get before we unite worldwide in an effort to improve the planet and political stability for all of us?

***

At the playground, there are lots of children playing wearing nothing but a t-shirt and underpants. Not just toddlers, but kids as old as five or so. Most were also barefoot because the playground is sandy.

E told me that while he was in the center plaza in the city, a young boy stripped down naked and jumped in a fountain. His dad promptly stepped out of his trousers and wearing just his underwear, joined the boy for a dip.

“I’ve seen London, I’ve seen France, I’ve seen German underpants.”

Of course in Belgium, you rarely see people in public in shorts and never in their underwear, no matter what their age. However, it is not uncommon to see men urinating in plain view by the side of the road. Let’s just say I’d rather be in Germany…. 

Comments

[mamatulip]

You're really making me want to travel abroad. And I don't do airplanes.

[Nancy]

When my brother lived in London for two years, we got over to see him once but never got to make that second trip. One of my biggest disappointments about not having a second visit was not being able to return to the Liberty Department Store in London -- I love their fabrics, and could have spent several days drooling over stuff there if I hadn't had a hubby and toddler along for the ride.

Oh, and high tea was pretty cool too. Scones with clotted cream. Sigh.

Sounds like you're enjoying your trip to Germany!

[Ash]

It's pretty common in Holland for kids to play in fountains and stuff with no clothing on! We have a huge fountain thing in our shopping centre surrounded with terraces and moms and dads get to sip coffee/cocktails while their kids romp naked in the fountain. It's pretty refreshing.

I guess I never told you about my new shoes? I bought some Crocs. You have SO got to get some. They are the most comfortable shoes I've ever owned and they can be washed! I'll blog about them later. I was a Birkenstock -style shoe girl before, now I'm a Croc convert. And yes, I have white socks to wear with them in winter ;) Did you buy white socks to go with your Birkies? ;P

You have to come to Amsterdam now and tell me what you think.

[Flubberwinkle]

I've seen tourists (scantily dressed, but dressed all the same) jump into fountains here in Athens. Someone should tell them that the water is practically stale, never renewed (not counting rain), just keeps going in and out of the fountain holes.... But they look like they're enjoying themselves too much to go into hygiene details.

p.s. Germany sounds like an enviromentalist's heaven. Must.Visit.Soon.
:-)

[Ceece]

mmm hooray for shopping! That;s my favorite vacation activity.

SOunds like you guys are having a great time, I can't wait to see pictures!