Shopping. 23/08/2016

I cannot return from any foreign trip without getting presents for my family and friends. In Copenhagen all I wanted was a pair of reading glasses. After two long hours of walking the back streets of the Port I returned to the ship with a sore toe but without the glasses. Stockholm was drenched in rain water. Never have I experienced such bad weather on a cruise. Sill,my two lovely nephews will be the lucky recipients of snazzy black long-sleeved T-shirts by a Swedish designer. I have also bought face creams and a mask made in Sweden. In Tallinn you must get linen clothes. Nowhere is linen as affordable as in Estonia. I have two long dresses with slits on the sides and large front pockets,comfortable,easy to wear,easy to look after. My favourite shop is called Veta, I went straight in to see if they had dresses similar to the ones I have already. They did,in two different colours. I bought them both. Tonight I wore one and felt a million dollars. There was also an imitation crocodile skin bag I just had to have.I love shoes.I love bags. As I was paying two ladies walked in and one said-beautiful.It must be Italian leather and very expensive. Estonian imitation and very cheap,I replied. And as always I found just the right necklace to go with all my summer clothes-pale string interspersed with pale stones. In a gallery selling Estonian made items only, I found adorable bow-ties for my 7 and 10 year old god-sons and a knitted purse for a friend. I couldn't resist colourful bracelets for my nieces. Any jewellery is always appreciated and I try to find unusual pieces easy to wear and adjustable. St Petersburg has masses of shops selling Russian made trinkets but I never buy souvenirs,only practical items. Having done homework before the cruise,I knew I wanted Natura Siberica beauty products and clothes by Russian designers. I found the first, the second will have to wait for my next visit. The Port has quite comprehensive duty free shops.I had a look in and was impressed with the items on sale.I got myself a red cap and a tiny black lacquered box for my sister,she collects them.As I was paying I noticed the most beautiful lacquered box under the glass. I was smitten.230 euro. But I had to have it.Utterly adorable. And the real mccoy with a certificate with the name of the artist. Warnemunde has a little shop after a little shop be it with clothes, shoes, bags. The most unusual of them all is a shoe shop called Easy Way. The boxes are on display,all higlgedy- piggledy,in a seemingly lackadaisical way yet the assistant finds everything quickly and easily. It is a treasure trove of something different,unusual,strange for both men and women. I couldn't resist two pairs of shoes and two pairs of ankle boots at 859.60 euro for the lot. Astronomical,I know,but I may not be able to return for a year or two or three. Well, that is my reasoning! And I do love shoes. I needed a bag to carry the shoes home in,so I got myself a lightweight, massive bag by Day Birger et Mikkelsen,a designer I have admired for a long time. The 85 euro stylish bag will be useful to take on all future cruises.