Today we made a trip to IKEA. Walking into the concrete mega-store just gave me such a warm feeling of home. Seeing the familiar furnishings, the familiar play land, the cheap kids' meals, --well, I nearly wept.
That being said there are noted differences.
IKEA is in a mall. And it is in a mall with two grocery stores and a huge parking garage. There is no vast parking lot where if you were at--say Disney World, they'd send a tram to get you. Instead there is a parking garage with signs that tell you where the most convenient grocery store parking is located. If this doesn't sound strange, or stressful to you, imagine going to the Galleria to buy milk. Still they do try to be accommodating. Instead of an escalator they have a sort of conveyor belt that you can push your grocery cart, which you can push all around the mall, from one level to the next.
But we went to IKEA, and IKEA did not disappoint. And in a few areas it was even better. First of all, the ketchup was free! At most places here they charge about .20 for a little package. And though the coffee was $1.95, it included free refills. Actually, that is a cheap cup'o java by Aussie standards, and it was one of the fancy cappuccino machines, since even IKEA doesn't dare to export drip coffee to Australia. All of Australia coffee is espresso based. You can order the following (if you ever choose to visit Australia
- Long black (this is as close to a regular cup of black coffee as you can get.)
- Short black (espresso)
- Flat white (this is espresso with more milk than espresso.)
No one serves flavored creams with coffee.
Of course many people do not shop in this manner. The other option are the shops. Each community usually has a few shops, a grocery store, a deli, a fruit market, a butcher, a baker, a candlestick maker (okay, I'm not sure about the last.) And many people will walk to the shops for their groceries.
MC--I miss a couple of things about drip coffee. I miss the convenience and the cost. There are times when all I want is to hold something warm, and for that I'd like to keep the cost to about 1.50.
Also, some drip coffee makers do make a cup of coffee that I like, but if you really like expresso then, well, no it isn't that.
I also miss half and half, which is what we used instead of milk.
That aside, the coffee here is great and Sydney has a wonderful cafe culture. One day I hope to indulge in it a bit.
Posted by: Leslie | August 15, 2006 at 02:57 PM
Hi there !
New to your blog today - I am an Australian that has lived in the US.
Do you really prefer/miss that dripolator style coffee ?? I think you can still get it in 'old style' McDonalds ... I think it tastes like dishwashing water ;)
Posted by: MC | August 15, 2006 at 12:41 PM
Will you please call me again so your number will be on my caller ID and I can write it down this time before it disappears? (Insert big cheesy grin here.)=)
Posted by: Robin | August 10, 2006 at 08:58 AM
Erika,
I am learning all kinds of new "efficient living" methods for Australian living (or perhaps Sydney Australia is more like it). Anyway, we will be moving in a couple of weeks and I'm looking forward to shops.
Posted by: Leslie | August 07, 2006 at 05:10 PM
hehehe...I'm laughing because our little block of shops does have a candlestick maker
(well, it's disguised as aromatherapy)
We went to the relatively new Ikea at Rhodes, they didn't have a parcel pickup area, and we had to manoevre all the pieces of 3 sets of 7' bookshelves through the car park - fun..NOT
Posted by: Erica | August 07, 2006 at 03:15 PM
Your trip to Ikea sounds wonderful! Now if they just had Texas BBQ there! How is your toe doing? Kyle and I have been reading your entries - he's trying to understand why you moved so far away! Take care of everyone.
Posted by: Glenda | August 07, 2006 at 12:11 AM