Complaint #57

I think I've mentioned before how Europe isn't the most stroller friendly place. I've learned to deal with it though. The elevators are extremely slow, but it's life. When there aren't elevators around Andy and I can manage carrying the stroller up and down the stairs.

Well, this morning I headed out to the grocery store. As I was walking there I was hoping that the elevator (which has been broken for a week) was repaired. No such luck! The elevator I used last week was unavailable, because I had to use a department stores elevator to get to the floor in the mall that I needed to. But the grocery stores and drugstores are the only stores that are open on Monday mornings. The rest of the stores don't open until at least noon on Mondays. So, I thought, no sweat, I'll just try taking the double stroller down the escalator. I'll take Rachel out and then I should be able to manage the stroller with just Audrey.

I soon realized that wasn't going to work either - the escalators were being serviced. Wonderful, impeccable timing! So, I get both Rachel and Audrey out of the stroller, Rachel walks down the escalator (really just stairs) and I carry Audrey down while dragging the stroller behind me. Halfway down there was a kind man that grabbed the other end of the stroller and helped me down. Thank you - it's not often you see such acts of chivalry displayed! :)

I do my grocery shopping (not really thinking of how I'm going to get back up to ground level) and realize I now have two little ones in the stroller, 3 bags of groceries hanging off the stroller, and the basket underneath the stroller is full. Not a problem when there's a working elevator. I decided to go to the service counter at the grocery store and ask where another elevator was. The lady quickly told me around there was one corner and of course I had to inform her that it was broken. So, there aren't any other options.

I then took matters into my own hands. We went out into the parking garage, which we never have been and I just pretended like we were a car. We went up the exit ramp to the parking garage and made our way home. So, I was able to find solution and it worked. But it still bugs me! Am I being unreasonable? Could the department store have been asked to make it's elevator available on Monday morning? Shouldn't the shopping center have paid to have some security for the department store so nobody would run off with their merchandise? I really don't think I'm asking too much...

Okay, now I feel better, venting is wonderful. Now here's to a better afternoon! :)