IKEA Mania

What do YOU do on a Saturday after you move into a new apartment? Go to IKEA, of course.

Amsterdam's IKEA.

We have heard about this phenomenon for a long time and from many people but it has never been an up-close-and-personal experience for us. We even saw the IKEA headquarters when we were in Sweden last summer and heard about what the letters stand for (the first 2 initials are for the founder's name, Ingvar Kamprad, and the last 2 intials are for his home village, Elmtaryd, Agunnaryd). I have since heard that he's the richest person in the world.

Our first visit to IKEA was in Hannover on Good Friday, the day before we moved our European apartment to Amsterdam. We needed an office chair for the computer desk and a big soup/stew pot. Donica figured prices would be cheaper in Hannover's IKEA than in Amsterdam's (which we have since found out is not true--they're the same). Besides, we had a rental car for transport.

Guess what! After living in Amsterdam for a week, we discovered some more things we could use. Like another computer desk and chair and a filing cabinet for the printer! (Actually, truth be known, Donica liked IKEA so much she needed an excuse to go back!)

So, we rented a car here in Amsterdam and drove out to A'dam's IKEA on Saturday morning. You know what those shopping carts are called? Winkelwagens! Remember to pronounce the 'w' like a 'v' and...how cute is THAT!


Once home, Donica was spit-spot on getting the chair, desk and then the filing cabinet assembled. Those of you who know IKEA know that almost all furniture has to be assembled! Par for the course.
Look. She's even smiling! One happy camper.


Voila! Next to my blue desk is Donica's new black desk and filing cabinet with printer. I'm sure you're wondering why we needed to go to all that trouble and expense. Well, let's just say that Donica didn't want to keep messing up the dining table every time she came home from work at night (she takes her laptop to work with her, of course), or to have me move all my paraphenalia every time she was home. And look how nicely everything fits together!

Truthfully, we know that we will have visitors here in A'dam! So we want to keep the living space tidied up. Just for when YOU will come, of course. :)

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Switch gears now because today I fly back to Atlanta. It's a non-stop flight with no transfers. I won't know what hit me!

While I'm flying to Atlanta, Donica will be flying to India. YES, INDIA! She'll be in Bangalore for a day and then Chennai (formerly Madras) for a day, flying back to Atlanta on Friday. Talk about a whirlwind!

THEN on Saturday, we both will fly to New York City (NYC) for a week's vacation! But I'll get to that later in the week. After I mow the lawn!!!