Christmas Horror
So its already this time of the year again.
We had the snow, we had the freezing and the slipping out on the streets.
Now the real horror starts - oh yes - the christmas shopping!
I know a couple of people who actually enjoy running into crowded shops, spend 30 minutes to get a free changing cubicle (or “sweaty box”), and then 40 minutes standing in a row and wait until you can pay the awesome great stuff you just tried on. It is good for the economy, right? Everything boosts the economy, right? Especially christmas shopping., at least that is what i have heard.
Since it is saturday, and i didnt have any particular appointments i had to attend, i thought i should do my christmas shopping today. Yes, that is quite obviously the most retarded thing to do. Christmas shopping on a saturday afternoon. Sometimes i am a smartass, really.
Mariahilferstrasse. The Mekka for shopping-addicted people.
THOUSANDS AND MiLLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE RUNNING INTO MY DIRECTION! PANIC!
i was still calm at this point.
I saw police men talking to people who were unable to find their way home, or maybe they had to be there cause someone smart decided to make them stand there in case a car hits a shopping-addicted-lady.
Of course you can find annoyed mommies with their kiddies. (i wanted to have one of those baloons. really. they would have looked swanky on my bag!)
In every shop you see tired men waiting for their girlfriends. I somehow pity those man. “do you think i look fat in this?” a girl in a summer-dress jumping up and down in front of the poor guy. “no honey, you look perfect.” “oh really?” “really.” “will you buy me the dress?” “uhm…… no.” “you think i look fat in it, dont you!” and the drama begins. So many relationships break due christmas shopping drama. Just like in a movie, the perfect soundtrack was provided by a street musician. It was dramatic, it was real, it was so… stylish!
5 shops later i decided that i really dont need new pants, no matter how fucked up my old ones are, and that everyone but me is completely insane. At least i bought a new hat. I think thats a pretty damn good score, considering i hate shopping. Yes, i am one of the female human beings that dislike shopping.
oh, and this handsome young man is the coolest thing ever!
When i passed by i was so shocked i dropped my cigarette.
He rocks. He definetely rocks. No, you cant buy him. (I asked the shop owner.)
So.
If youre bored, and you need to do your christmas shopping, let me give you an advice:
Dont go on the Mariahilferstrasse on a saturday afternoon. i am serious.
dont.do.it.
NIce pictures - interesting site.
Ben O.
You should see shopping in the United States on the day after our Thanksgiving Holiday. There are lines that extend for a kilometer, around the stores, of cold-angry-pushy people, waiting to get in the store at 6 in the morning for ‘The Best Deals.’
Tech stores will offer things like $100 laptops and $20 DVD players. There’s yelling and screaming, frustration and impatience, all with the Christmas Spirit.
I usualy attend the event, because I’m a technophile and I’ll suffer for a good deal, but I usually end up buying things for myself.
It’s fun to start singing Christmas carols inside the angry crowd.
Hi Daniela, its nice to see some shopping pics from Vienna. Okay, so, Ich bin Verkauferin - in England. Can I please request that all those folk who wish to be served with politeness, good humour and respect by all we hard working, cheezy smiling, stressed out shop staff, then please do not use your mobile aka ‘Handy’at the till point when you are paying. It’s the height of ignorance. Two years ago I served a guy and he was wittering on relentlessly on his mobile, so I told him, ” Tell them Karen on the till says Merry Christmas to you. ” And guess what, the jerk said it !!! I rest my case. Oh, by the way, if the pullover you wanted isn’t in your size, dont whine about it. It’s not a matter of life and death is it - it’s only a damn pullover, not the cure for cancer or aids.
So, now I have vented my spleen, I thank you and wish all readers Frohe Weihnachten!
@ Ben O. : thank you!
@ The Original Ben: woah. CAN YOU PLS GET ME A LAPTOP FOR $100?! :)
@ Kazmac: and i thought only viennese people are the most annoying shoppers on this planet. i had to wait around 25 minutes, cause the girl didnt want to pay for everything and had to think about what she should leave at the store. the next girl didnt know how her visa card works. the next young man decided to pay with cents. the next girl complained about the waiting time and made the rest of us wait even longer.
I totally respect you for your patience. i could never be a Verk
super-post Daniela, I liked it!
take a look to this: http://www.adbusters.org/metas/eco/bnd/bnd_xmas/
tuesday 10.30 am is a nice time to shop. even at mariahilferstreet.
(yeah. i’m a bloody student.)
never ever bring your husbands/bfs when you are shopping. that’s it!
with all its faults, mariahilferstrasse is still a rarity. i love crowd-watching. the people are interesting.
you gotta love daniela’s posts
hi daniela
thank god you are out there - i thought already i’m the only woman on earth who hates shopping - on Mariahilferstrasse, Downtown, in Shopping Centers, Malls etc. - at saturdays, fridays, thursday evenings, before chrismas, new years eve, mardigras, actually before any event (easter, birthdays or such a likes). the photos are awesome and .. i know the handsome guy - the first time i saw him it took me some time to realize that he’s real in his own special way ;) i had to do some food shopping today (friends will come over for lunch tomorrow) and i did it together with my husband - bad mistake! i guess its just in the air - we even got into a fight over a bit food shopping - would we have gone on Mariahilferstrasse - we probably would have been seperated by now. Can anybody tell me why people are so crazy before Chrismas??? It’s supposed to be the quiet time in the year, the look-inward-time, the be-cosy-with-your-loved-ones-time … and somehow we manage to create the most hectical, stressed out and angry times in the year. Why? Any ideas?