Search for the Red Diamond lock
Day 1 Oct. 13
London
Okay so after arriving at the hostel at an ungodly hour (a 5 pm EDT departure meant a 5 am GMT arrival), I find out the details of my room and where I can store my bag. I want to start exploring. Now before I'm off I inquire about where I might find a backpackers'/travelers' store so I can replace the locks I'm missing. Curiously the location of a backpackers' store (and possibly the concept) seems to have befuddled the staff. I'm told to check out Euston station up the road. It seems likely that they'd sell luggage locks in a major train station.
After becoming somewhat familiar with neighbourhood and spotting a pretty cool Ghandi statue it's now a reasonable hour.
So on my way back to the hostel I hit Euston to see if the have a replacement lock. There's two workers chatting at the store I was told to look for. This is pretty much how the conversation went.
"Hello, can I help you?"
"Yes. I'm looking to replace some locks that went missing after my flight. They're the kind airport security can open, so they won't slash open your bag."
The man looks somewhat puzzled.
"They have a red diamond on them if that helps."
"Red diamond? You want locks with rubies on them? Is this for the Queen or something?"
Damn British humor.
"No, no" I insist repeating my explanation of the lock and hopelessly trying to draw the logo in the air so he doesn't think I've made this up.
The clerk explains that they have two kind of luggage locks: the key kind, which security can open, and the combo type, which they cannot open. None of these have the red diamond logo but given that I've got no locks I settle for the much cheaper key kind.
I thank the man and I'm on my way. Clearly I've made his day. No doubt thathe'll delight over dinner with a story about some stupid (North) American looking for ruby encrusted luggage locks.
London
Okay so after arriving at the hostel at an ungodly hour (a 5 pm EDT departure meant a 5 am GMT arrival), I find out the details of my room and where I can store my bag. I want to start exploring. Now before I'm off I inquire about where I might find a backpackers'/travelers' store so I can replace the locks I'm missing. Curiously the location of a backpackers' store (and possibly the concept) seems to have befuddled the staff. I'm told to check out Euston station up the road. It seems likely that they'd sell luggage locks in a major train station.
After becoming somewhat familiar with neighbourhood and spotting a pretty cool Ghandi statue it's now a reasonable hour.
So on my way back to the hostel I hit Euston to see if the have a replacement lock. There's two workers chatting at the store I was told to look for. This is pretty much how the conversation went.
"Hello, can I help you?"
"Yes. I'm looking to replace some locks that went missing after my flight. They're the kind airport security can open, so they won't slash open your bag."
The man looks somewhat puzzled.
"They have a red diamond on them if that helps."
"Red diamond? You want locks with rubies on them? Is this for the Queen or something?"
Damn British humor.
"No, no" I insist repeating my explanation of the lock and hopelessly trying to draw the logo in the air so he doesn't think I've made this up.
The clerk explains that they have two kind of luggage locks: the key kind, which security can open, and the combo type, which they cannot open. None of these have the red diamond logo but given that I've got no locks I settle for the much cheaper key kind.
I thank the man and I'm on my way. Clearly I've made his day. No doubt thathe'll delight over dinner with a story about some stupid (North) American looking for ruby encrusted luggage locks.
posted by Mike D @ 9:38 AM
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