Well, maybe not to Sweden itself, but we went shopping at a Swedish store, and being immersed in language around us, such as Själland, Kallax, Stödja, and so forth, one could almost feel they were in Sweden, right?! 😁
Have you had the opportunity to visit get lost in IKEA? We have been able to shop there quite a few times; when we lived in California and Denver and at various stops in our travels. For those who have not had the pleasure of visiting, the stores are huge. You begin shopping on the second floor where a twisted, circuitous path takes you in and around every department, giving you lots of opportunities to see just about every interesting item they offer. Albeit, the prices are often quite good, so that makes it even more treacherous!
Lest you worry about getting lost, there are frequent arrows on the floor showing the direction of travel. In this store, they are projected on the floor with occasional signs to "Open This", or "Look at These". They don't have to repaint, and can project new signs when displays change. I always love seeing clever uses of technology!
There are a few "secret" passages from one area to another if you know where to look for them and are in a hurry to get downstairs to the next twisted pathway.
We were in Pennsylvania visiting my dad quite a few years ago when I learned that I was accepted for a new position that would require my having a home office. We spent the better part of a day at the IKEA near Dad's home debating different storage/desk options for our home office. That night we sketched out the room (as best as we could figure dimensions) and made a list of what we needed, returning the next day to locate it all in the warehouse area and pack the bed of the truck to the brim with boxes. Our teenage son was not amused, although he did have fun scooting around the ample aisles with his “wheelies” shoes and the IKEA cart with swivel casters all around. That is, until an IKEA employee read him the riot act while glaring at us for being negligent parents! 😂
I wanted a few items to make a cutting/piecing/whatever table in my new sewing room. I saw a great idea for just such a piece online, using IKEA Kallax units. I located what I needed online at IKEA and submitted my order. I had the option of home delivery for $59, or pick up on location. We decided we'd have an adventure, make the 80 mile trip, all on parkways, and we'd save the delivery expense. Yeah, right! I figured we'd pick up a few products we've used from there before. But...you can see the writing on the wall! You know how it rolled!
We followed the twisting path guaranteed to take you buy (sic) and go through just about every department they have. One would be hard pressed not to find some sort of doo-dad that would be perfect at home! (As I mentioned, there are pass throughs from one area to the next you can use as short cuts, but what’s the fun in that?!)
On the first aisle of IKEA my true love said to me, let's get this pretty plastic medium tall tree.
On the second aisle of IKEA I turned and said to he, I want two(2) boxes of baggies and this pretty plastic medium tall tree.
On the third aisle at IKEA my true love said to me, do you want three(3) serving trays? two(2) boxes of baggies and this pretty plastic medium tall tree.
On the fourth aisle at IKEA I turned and said to he, let's get four(4) storage bins, three(3) serving trays, two(2) boxes of baggies and this pretty plastic medium tall tree.
On the fifth aisle at IKEA my true love said to me, let's get five(5) curtain rings, four(4) storage bins, three(3) serving trays, two(2) boxes of baggies and this pretty plastic medium tall tree.
On the sixth(6) aisle at IKEA I turned and said to he, I'd like six(6) tools for turning, five(5) curtain rings, four(4) storage bins, three(3) serving trays, two(2) boxes of baggies and this pretty plastic medium tall tree.
On the seventh(7) aisle at IKEA my true love said to me, I want seven(7) Swedish chocolates, six(6) tools for turning, five(5) curtain rings, four(4) storage bins, three(3) serving trays, two(2) boxes of baggies and this pretty plastic medium tall tree.
On the eighth aisle at IKEA I turned and said to he, let's buy eight(8) terry towels, seven(7) Swedish chocolates, six(6) tools for turning, five(5) curtain rings, four(4) storage bins, three(3) serving trays, two(2) boxes of baggies and this pretty plastic medium tall tree.
On the ninth aisle at IKEA my true love said to me, let's buy nine(9) purple placemats, eight(8) terry towels, seven(7) Swedish chocolates, six(6) tools for turning, five(5) curtain rings, four(4) storage bins, three(3) serving trays, two(2) boxes of baggies and this pretty plastic medium tall tree.
On the eleventh aisle at IKEA my true love said to me, I want eleven(11) low-light lamps, ten(10) water goblets, nine(9) purple placemats, eight(8) terry towels, seven(7) Swedish chocolates, six(6) tools for turning, five(5) curtain rings, four(4) storage bins, three(3) serving trays, two(2) boxes of baggies and this pretty plastic medium tall tree.
On the twelfth aisle of IKEA I turned and said to he, that's it!
We checked out and stashed our treasures in the truck.
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| Shortly after I took this picture some 20-something kids stopped by, asking if we could use some help. Not being too proud we acquiesced and soon had the heavy cartons in the truck. I find that one advantage of aging....maybe not so gracefully, is that folks offer to help and I take them up on it! |
We went back to have lunch at the cafeteria (Restaurante Sueco). One cannot go to Sweden (IKEA) without having a Swedish meatball plate meal, for $8.95! (Oh, and we had a coupon for 2 for 1!)
The expense for our trip to Sweden was a wee bit more than the original delivery fee….but far less than the plane fare!
It took me to about 5 before I realized what you were doing. I blame it on not yet had much coffee! Your truck bed was brimming. I am one of the few who has never been inside an IKEA.
ReplyDeleteYou are probably better off not having been in one!!!
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