Emergency Shopping in Scotland

I knew there was evil in the world. Death and taxes were all necessary evils.

So was shopping.

"I hate shopping," I muttered.

~ Lisa Shearin, The Trouble with Demons

Yes, I was sorely tempted.* Somehow I talked myself out of them. [But I might makeover some old jeans.] 

What do you do when you arrive in a foreign place without luggage?

Well, first you take stock of what you have, think about what you will absolutely need, make lists, talk to the front desk at the hotel for shopping recommendations, and maybe curse a little under your breath (and promise to make the airline pay!).

Fortunately for me, a friend and her husband who were also missing luggage showed me a few places they had shopped. We prepared ourselves to waste our precious free time in Edinburgh shopping for "necessaries."

Where did we go? 

Edinburgh is a major city we hit North Face, Boots (chemist/pharmacy/MORE), Pricemark, Marks and Spencer, Timberland, Cotswold Outdoor (sporting goods) and a few other small stores. We didn't shop all at once because we believed the baggage would arrive in a day or two. We only purchased what was essential.

As the days rolled by and we still had no luggage,** we realized we were going to have to get a few more items.

Are you even a little curious? 

Here is most of my list that will be submitted to American Airlines since they (and most airlines) are suffering post-Covid issues and have piles of undelivered luggage stacked in airports worldwide:

hiking pants

2 long-sleeved tops

1 short-sleeved top

3 pairs of socks

underwear (I hear even the Queen buys her knickers at M&S)

hiking shoes

trekking poles (do not ask how many pairs I own now) :-(

scarf

vitamins and stuff from the pharmacy

sunscreen - La Roche Posay - ridiculously expensive, but worth it

insect repellant (midges! - they did get us on the last night)

small carry-on suitcase - Primark had them for £14

Even the Scots have socks for people who need direction.

Even though I hate shopping I tried to make it fun. 

I hit the Boots three times as I kept forgetting things (so much for lists). The clerks there are fun and chatty. They helped us learn the very strange self-checkout. We talked about genealogy. And I'm pretty sure one fellow was flirting with me, but my eyes were on the prize - preparation for the Highlands where stores (and time to shop) would be almost nonexistent. 

Just what I needed - another set of trekking poles and pair of hiking shoes....

Actually, I'm going to take another minute to brag on the clerks in Edinburgh. To a person they were helpful and kind to a clueless American. I'm pretty fond of the Scots, I must say. The pharmacy clerk took a great deal of time making sure I would not double up on sinus medicine. The boutique clerk kindly sent me to "the place where women of all ages and sizes buy their knickers." ***

And I'm quite in love with my new hiking pants, if not the rest of my "haul."

Towards the end of the trip I began to realize that all the shopping for necessities ate up time I might have spent shopping for souvenirs. Bummer.  I did manage to send a few postcards home.**** 

Now to sit down and fill out the form for reimbursement before I lose my receipts. 

NOTES:

* Don't judge me! I definitely would have worn these in my youth. 

**One of my friends (who has MUCH experience traveling abroad for work went to the Edinburgh Airport, was detained by security, actually communicated with baggage personnel and was able to convince them #1 to release him without charges and #2 go look for his luggage - and SUCCESS - the staffer brought the bags forward!). 

***Marks and Spencer is famous for their underwear. I'm now a fan.

****And I purchased a "only the Scots get it" T-shirt at a restaurant when I had been drenched by the fairies (more on this later) and was freezing.

FINAL NOTE: I will never check a suitcase again. Since the luggage didn't catch up with me until the last night in Scotland, I have created a packing list. Skip to the bottom of this link: 

https://walkswithfriendsanddogs.blogspot.com/2022/07/travel-in-time-of-covid-june-2022.html

FINAL FINAL NOTE:

I've been in communication with the airlines off and on about my delayed luggage since June 20 when it did not arrive with me in Edinburgh. Yesterday I received a check for my claim. I had been forced to replace much of what I had packed (except the gifts for hosts and guides.) so my claim was higher than I would have expected. They paid the whole claim with no question. And there you go.