I will never go to Harrod's during the holiday season again. That place, even on a Tuesday afternoon, is a mad house, full of tourists and ex-pats looking for that perfect, overpriced, "staple of London" Harrod's gift for their loved ones. In the "arcade" area, where all the teddy bears, coffee mugs, teas, chocolates, bags, key chains, tee-shirts, and anything else you can come up with that can be stamped with the Harrod's name across the front of it are located, the mobs of people are incredibly dense.
Unsuspecting and thinking that I was smart to go on a Tuesday instead of waiting until Jim could go with me on a Saturday, I strolled into the massive department store. I was carrying a backpack, which I also thought was pretty smart, since my right shoulder has a new pain after lugging my bag full of maps, books to read on the tube, ten pound change purse full of really heavy British money, an umbrella, water, and whatever else I happened to pick up...all over London. Well, I wasn't allowed to carry my backpack on my back in Harrods. Nor was I allowed to sling it over one shoulder. Oh no, I had to carry my heavy backpack IN MY HAND. That, plus the crowds, plus the fact that they keep it about 100 degrees in that place were a recipe for exhaustion.
Then I got in trouble because, with my backpack in hand, my coat thrown over my shoulder, and a Harrod's basket full of Harrod's goods in the other hand, I made my way from an arcade on the bottom floor to an arcade on the main floor. Apparently, you're not allowed to carry the basket outside of the arcade..or from one arcade to the other. I think, though, that my convincing plea that I was lost and just needed to get to the other arcade and find my friend (kind of a lie. I wasn't lost. My friend was meeting me in the original arcade.) and my American accent helped the security guard feel sorry for me and he directed me, with my illegal basket, to the arcade I was seeking. When I finally was ready to pay for my goods, a chatty lady talked my ear off about her lack of vacation time. This is really rare, actually. Usually no one wants to talk to me here. SO, I should have enjoyed it, but by that point I just wanted to get out of there.
So, I've done Harrod's. Never again...at least not until I have to.
