Blog Love

I'm currently here in Florence to celebrate Luisa Via Roma's 10th year anniversary of LuisaViaRoma.com. As you know, I've supported them for as long as I can remember and it's wonderful to see how they've evolved over the years. Luisa Via Roma is one of my favourite online stores. Their selection is amazing and they have always been the first in posting collections in advance.

It's my first time to visit Florence so you can imagine how I had goosebumps when I passed the store on during my night stroll. The store is a block away from my hotel!

Anyhoo, this bag was waiting for me when I arrived into my room.

The folks at Luisa Via Roma sent me this very cheeky t-shirt.

Hysterical!

It's the perfect antidote to THIS.

Just sayin' :-)

Firenze Fever

How funny. Spent eight days in Stockholm, flew to Manila for less than 2 days and after 22 hours and two delayed flights not to mention baggage problems, I'm back in Europe again. This time I'm in Florence, Italy.

I'm staying at the spectacular Savoy Hotel…

… here's the amazing view from my balcony.

And Piazza della Repubblica at night.

Tomorrow's gonna be a busy day. Time to get some shuteye.

Baggage Delay 2.0

Italia, we have a problem. It's like KLM all over again.

I recently sent my luggage via courier from my hotel in Stockholm to Florence for convenience and to save money from paying ridiculous, per-kilo excess baggage fees. I brought several suitcases with me because it's gonna be a very busy month and a half.

I called my hotel in Florence to see to ensure they've received my luggage safely and the concierge told me, nope, they haven't received anything for me yet.

I checked the courier's website lo and behold I found this:

Estimated delivery: June 14, 2010 – 8PM

My heart stopped. I arrive in Florence this Thursday, June 10. Why the long delivery time?

I picked up the phone and the courier told me that my bags are gonna
be delivered to Italy by truck (aka Ground service).

Turns out that I selected "International Economy" instead of "International Priority" on the form and there's no way for them to change the
service because the shipment already left the station in Stockholm..

How was I supposed to know International Economy is the land equivalent of the slow boat?

I can't believe it. With my current workload and schedule, I have no time for this BULLSHIT.

My clothes are there, my toiletries are there, 10 pairs of shoes are there, my handbags, my accessories, my glitter playsuits, my Finsk wedges and yes, my "never-leave-home-without" Sally Hansen airbrush legs are there.

I have tons of events from June 11 onwards. What to do, what to do?

Please refrain from being oh so predictable by telling me to 'shop' and buy shit. Money doesn't grow on trees! I'll shop if you pay my bills and wire cashola into my bank account.

Also, I have travel insurance but this is not covered because I sent my luggage via commercial courier not via commercial flight (ie. I didn't travel with it).

I need a miracle. That's what I need.

Now who wants to lend me clothes and shoes?

Please don't laugh at me when I show up in Nike trainers.

That's all.

photo credit: rodeo magazine