All That Glitters IS Gold Part Two

Another one of my great purchases involved a slightly seedy shopping experience. Oh, who am I kidding? I half expected to end up on an episode of “COPS.” It all started with the search for cheap replica watches, that a group of the guys wanted to buy. The opportunity is abundant. To give you an idea of just how abundant, I was ready to make up a t-shirt that read, “No. I am not interested in buying your cheap watches, designer handbags or singing camels!” The guys were approached by one of the many street peddlers and decided we would follow one of them to his shop. I should have known something was up when our group of five started to resemble a conga line snaking its way through the tiny alleyways and restaurants… watch out for the feral cats, they are hiding in the strangest places and are rather intrigued by pale skin. After dodging trash and other unidentifiable objects in the streets, and pretending to ignore the odd looks given to us by the local cafeteria goers, we entered an unmarked building and piled into an elevator. I couldn’t help but note the elevator was rated for 8 persons with a maximum weight of 200 Kg – definitely not enough to make me feel safe, but what can you do? Too late now, we were already moving up… although rather laboriously. We reached the second floor and followed the purveyor to his locked storeroom door – which was about the size of a walk in closet with no windows and a huge wooden door. I guess windows weren’t really necessary considering all the security cameras that were beaming images of all sorts of outside angles to the lone colour TV in the corner of the room. (Yep, “colour TV.” Business must be good.) Not to mention the prime selling space windows would have occupied, as the walls were literally papered with knock off designer handbags. Fendi, Gucci, Dolce Gabanna, Calvin Klein, Diesel, Chanel – you name it, it was there. And there was no risk of shoplifting considering the moment we were all in the room, the door was dead bolted behind us. Which drew my attention to the door. It would take a stick of dynamite to blast through that puppy. It had two sliding bolt locks and numerous deadbolts… I guess their prices really were a “steal.” I couldn’t help the thought that crossed my mind, staring at that door, “Wow! I might wake up in a bath tub filled with ice, missing my liver, all for the sake of finding my Mom and hair stylist fabulous handbags!” I got over it though, the moment I spotted what will be my Mom’s first Fendi (knock off) bag. I started the search for a great find for Lisa (my stylist – trust me, the work this girl does – she deserves it!) and had my own personal assist that kept handing me each bag to inspect and hopefully fall in love with. It took awhile, but I had time to kill since the boys were wrist deep in watches. By the end of an hour of heated bartering and nervous glances at the video monitor… we each walked away satisfied with our spoils. All we had to do now was figure out how to backtrack our way to the main street again. Are you sure it wasn’t LEFT at the feral cat in the tree? More to follow!