SHOPPING
November 15th, 2012 - The Real (like Walmart) store that is a 35 minute walk from here had a grand opening today. They had a lot of free samples of food and drink and to buy on the way into the store and on almost every isle inside the store someone was giving free samples. I didn't try the alcohol drinks offered but there were plenty of people there to try them and the store was very crowded. The samples I tried where all good but I didn't buy any except the fresh bread. I'm still finding small things that would be nice to have in the apartment and if I know the item won't be coming on the boat with our "stuff" I might buy it. I try not to buy more than I can lift if I decide to take the bus back home. Today though I bought TOO much to lift so I walked home with my heavy cart. Trouble is, when the cart is heavy, it tends to stop abruptly when it hits a rock on the path so I dumped the entire load once today when it jerked out of my hands and crashed. I got warmed up and had a good workout putting it all back into the cart and pulling it home. It was cold out, about 36 degrees F so I had to take off my gloves, scarf and coat to cool down after that spill. You might find some of the photos of the vendors interesting.
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| This is the hall entrance to the Real store. Usually it is empty. Later more stores will be going into the areas on both side of the hall. |
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| Guy on stilts and carrying a shopping basket. |
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| Giving free ice cream cones and being a comedian and magician at the same time. |
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| Free champagne samples. |
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| Free alcohol samples of many kinds, and of course you can buy them if you want them. |
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| Leergutannahme means "returned empties". This is where you can take your empty plastic, and glass bottles and put them into here, get a receipt and get cash at the register in the store. |
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| This guy had a LOT of empties to return. |
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| There was live music, sounded pretty good, both American popular songs like Beach Boys as well as German songs. |
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| There where a LOT of guys in line for Tattoos. Pretty girl doing them, SOO... |
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| Sandwich stand outside. |
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| Serving rotisserie beef, I THINK? |
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| My heavy cart, 95 euros (~120 dollars) worth of stuff. |
They don't let you take that little cart on the bus? Bummer.
ReplyDeleteSure looks like a fancy store.
Your labels look very nice. :)
I can take the cart onto the bus and I do but not when it is heavy like this one. I have trouble lifting it up onto the bus. So if it is heavy, I just walk back.
DeleteI remember the Real! And Germans are very good at recycled beverage containers - bottled water still comes in glass bottles that are refilled - remember the days of milk bottle deliveries? My neighbors always had the plastic cases of water and beer bottles to return.
ReplyDeleteWhen do the Christmas markets open? I look forward to those pictures!!
The Christmas Markets open on Friday, Nov 23rd this year. I'm making "Thanksgiving dinner the next day (Saturday) but I'll make a few dishes in the morning and then go to the markets in the afternoon and hopefully Steve will be able to go too.
DeleteCan you imagine anybody in the US walking 35 minutes to a store? Especially if they have to carry their stuff home again? I'm proud of you.
ReplyDeleteAlso, can you imagine free samples of alcohol in the US? I don't think so.
I loved living in Germany.