Behind the kimonos...

So here it is people, the secret to knock off purses on Canal Street. Follow the small Asian woman who has little understanding of English beyond numbers and the word "dollar" through the rack of kimonos and into the little room that is stocked with "Louis Muitton" and "Bearberry" to the rafters. And if you aren't too shocked by all this, and evidently Liz wasn't, bargain the price down a bit. She is now the proud owner of a knock-off Burberry.

We started off late this morning waking up at about 9:30 (but we only got to bed at about 2 a.m. the night before) and headed out to Chinatown for Dim Sum. Ended up at this really authentic, non-touristy place called "The Golden Unicorn" and chowed down. Okay, so it was new to me so I didn't over do it, and ate with a fork. And Ginger Ale. There were pictures on the wall of the owners of the place with Michael Bloomberg and a letter from Rudy Guiliani (Mayors, current and former). Not sure if that speaks to much, but I think it at least says that the place has a clean record from the health department, so hey, good news.

It was hot, and we then did the purse shopping, a bit of Little Italy (about 20 paces), some Soho and Tribeca. Went to a Starbucks and had some kinda tea passionfruit thing that Liz ordered for me (it was yummy). We spent a long time trying to figure out what to do next, which is very ironic when you're sitting in New York City.

We ended up trying for a tour of the New York Stock Exchange, which, since it was about 3 and close to the end of the trading day might have been interesting. I say "might" because we were promptly, but courteously informed by one of the many security guards that there have been no tours since 9/11. Saw a bunch of guys in the financial district with machine guns, and even in Penn Station (though that was a bit of a blur due in large part to the activities described in my previous post).

Lots of security all over. And Liz tells me that while she was out for a smoke she heard that the President of Uganda just left our hotel. Actually, the woman from Atlanta she was talking to said "Utanda", so I'm making an assumption there, but I think it's a good guess. And really, things are good when you can afford to stay in a hotel that is good enough for the President of Uganda.

Another ad I noticed in a subway today (or maybe it was yesterday).... "Assaulting a police officer is a felony". It goes on to point out that it's also a felony to assault bus drivers and transit operators. Hmm, I would have thought that assaulting anyone was bad and that most of us were clear on that, but apparently you have to threaten people with more jail time (or whatever a felony conviction works out to, it's been awhile since I've watched Law and Order), in order for them not to assault a transit operator.

Off for now....