There's a Mini-Germany in Birmingham







You know how for Americans, an old-fashioned Christmas is kind of Englishy?  Like, Dickens and Victorian England and stuff like that?  Well in England, an old-fashioned Christmas is German.  And every year, direct from Birmingham's sister-city Frankfurt, comes the largest German Christmas market outside of Germany!  mmmmmmmm   I tell you the English know how to do cakes and Christmas pudding and holly and ivy and all, but the Germans...they know how to do donuts. and pretzels. and sausages. and wooden toys.





   
The new editing features on blogger make it so hard to arrange pictures now. grrrr. anyway...

Birmingham is also home to one of the most famous English department stores: Selfridges.   Besides being gigantic and super schnazzy, it's famous for its radical modern architecture.  Check it out!

We ventured inside to see if the store lived up to its fame and woa.  Just like in the movies. But what I really have to say is that they had this whole exotic American imports section.  Oh joy!  Just what can you get at this uber-posh English department store that you can't get anywhere else?


Lucky Charms.  They had a whole fancy display. It was beautiful! And how many pounds do you have to hand over to take home such a lovely prize?  Let me just convert the price to dollars for you....  $12.40.  For one box.  Of Lucky Charms.
But while we're splurging why don't we see what else you can get at this magical place called Selfridges?

Kraft Macaroni and Cheese: $10. for a box.
Mrs. Butterworth's Syrup: $11
Wonka Bar (in the land of Roald Dahl...they have to import it from America): $3 
Aunt Jemima Pancake Mix: $11 for a small bag
Oreos: $11.59
A1 Steak Sauce: $8
Marshmallow Fluff: $10
Canned Egg Nog:  $11.59 per can
Jelly Bellies: $5 for 100 grams
Nerds: $3 per box
Hershey's Kisses: $5.59 for the smallest bag I've ever seen.


So next time you're at Albertson's and you throw one of these items in your shopping cart, and hand over a buck for it at the checkout, think of the posh shoppers at Selfridges, and how they are coughing up serious money for these exciting, exotic American treats.

4 comments:

Olivia Meikle said...

Why is it, I wonder, that we always feel others do Christmas better than we do? I mean, for Americans it's obviously true, but . . .

Do the Germans like someone else's Christmas better, I wonder? Austria, probably.

And, Ha-ha, we can get oreos for $3 and syrup for $5. But I have yet to see Lucky Charms, marshmallow fluff or egg nog, so count your overpriced blessings.

The Hodges Family said...

Haha yeah sure makes me think twice when buying those things here...too funny!

T.A.T.I Crew said...

So I can't believe I haven't thought of this before: I should move to England, and sell various General Mills products and make a total mint!

Great Britain here I come!

Oh, and your pictures are great. Have you ever tried www.picnik.com for arranging them? It's awesome.

Katie said...

Hey picnik is great! Thanks for pointing it out!

And I'm your first General Mills customer -- get over here!