The day I thought I might have to live at Walmart forever

And on the fifth day … they shopped. And shopped some more.

This morning I slept in for the first time since arriving in the US of A. Every minute of every day has been filled with learning and playing that there was little time for resting, so this morning was bliss. We had shopping on the agenda though {with the dollar being so strong and the prices here so low, we had to shop!}.

We hailed a cab out the front of our hotel, sat in the back seat and asked, “Can you please take us to Fashion Valley?”

The taxi driver had no idea what we were talking about, “Where is that?”

We too had no idea. Before long two taxi drivers got out of their cars to help the obviously new taxi driver. “Take Fifth and turn right at Universal,” he instructed him.

“Can we just go with you?” I piped up from the back seat, only to be told no. I knew it wasn’t going to end well, but off we went.

Twenty minutes later the driver pulled up to the curb and announced, “Here we are.”

Except we weren’t. We were almost in the middle of nowhere. Not like in a spooky movie way where the driver drops us into the desert, but in the way that we weren’t where we were meant to be. We were smack bang in the middle of Mission Valley. We paid our money and farewell our unfaithful driver.

We grabbed another cab and eventually made our way to the real Fashion Valley only to discover that it wasn’t the place we really wanted to be either {shops too fancy, prices too high} so we resorted to calling our trusty driver Richard to the rescue. We met him when we arrived in San Diego and he’s looked after ever since.

Not long after we were on the border of Mexico and back in the shopping mecca, Premium Outlets. We shopped until our feet hurt and our wallets were almost empty. I left the shoes below behind. Oh, how I wanted them. Just half a size too small.

We were in search for the perfect presents for our kids, which we were told we would find at Kmart just across the road. Not sure where we were headed we stopped the security guard and asked him for directions. Robinson is the funniest guy ever. “The only Kmart ’round here is in the ghettos. You don’t want to be going to the ghettos.” He told us that we really needed to go to Walmart, not Kmart, so he hailed us another cab and gave the guy a talking to, “You look after my friends,” he said waving his finger at him. “Don’t you go charging them more or taking them round the corner the long way. You take them to Walmart and you look after them, you hear?”

So off we went to Walmart, in the middle of nowhere {known as Chule Vista}. We purchased the toys, a bra, some tinker bell PJ’s {for me, because I’m a kid at heart}, magazines and then headed over to the information desk to ask them to call us a cab. “We can’t maam. We don’t have a phone anymore.”

Moments later Sarah told me that the reason they didn’t have a phone was because it was ripped from the wall, a hole remained where it used to be. Nice.

We stood outside and waited for a cab. And waited. And waited. A young man walked by, high as a kite, yelling to the world as he went on his way. I feared for my life slightly. They sell guns at Walmart, you know? We called the cab company who assured us Mr Reynolds, ‘he’s old’ they said, was coming to pick us up. We waited some more. And then some more. I seriously thought I was going to have to live in the linen section at Walmart.

A lifetime later old man Reynolds came to pick us up. Our frustration dissolved as soon as we saw how cute he was.

Eventually we arrived back to our rooms where I promptly kicked off my shoes, ordered room service and watched Bridesmaids {hilarious!}.

I’m off home tomorrow where I’ll be awarding my husband the trophy below. I’ve missed him so much, and my Lacey girl too. I’m aching for that moment I walk down the hall at arrivals and into their arms. I can’t wait.

More on BlogHer tomorrow. Just needed to share the pointless story from today. xx

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23 thoughts on “The day I thought I might have to live at Walmart forever”

  1. What adventures you girls are having Telle! Enjoying living vicariously through your travels. Safe trip home and enjoy that amazing cuddle with Lacey at the airport!xoxox

  4. Go the US/AUD war – you will be so overloaded with your flight home 🙂

    loved those shoes – are you sure you are not 21 and trying to cram yourself into shoes too small just cause they were a bargain 🙂

    x

    Loulou

  5. Loved those shoes. Loved them so much i bought them at Nine West when we were in the US. I think they were $30 or something. So comfy and I love the wedge.

    Premium Outlet Malls are fantastic in the US. I barely shop anywhere else. I hope you are having a wonderful time.

    K xx

  7. Sorry you had so much trouble. We never hit the US without a rental car. Still a hilarious post ;-), but don't get the small shoes ;-)! I did just that with huge European size 41 feet (in my early 20s there were hardly any shoes that size available – thanks for the smile loulou 😉 ) and now at 30 something and three kids later I have even a size more, my feet are killing me when I try to wear fancy shoes and I need orthotics ;-). Hope you have a safe tip back home – maks 🙂

  9. Your not crazy I so want to go to Walmart too one day! Owww hubby will love that, you always appreciate what you have when it isn't around don't you. Safe travels home x

  11. ahhh…sweet sweet premium outlets…shopping mecca for sure! pity you didn't get to a target, we stopped at a super target in Orlando and I finally understood why the Americans love it ever so much. Can't wait to read all about BlogHer! Tatum

  12. Safe travels home, I'm so excited for you for the moment when Lacey lays yes on you at the airport. Hope you packed waterproof mascara!

  17. I love it! a few of us aussies bought our tickets for next year and shopping in nyc is high on my list!

    I'd love to go to walmart too! I can just imagine the welcome home at the airport! enjoy!!!!!!!

    corrie:)

  18. I love the shoes! I hope you enjoyed your trip- next time you're in America visit the heartland. We don't know a stranger! Of course, that may not be a good thing!

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