malled to death.

there was a big controversy in 1992 when mattel introduced a talking barbie doll. after generations of smiling vapidly and holding her arms just so, barbie was finally going to get a chance to share what she had to say. imagine the overwhelming disappointment when, after decades of preparation, she opened her mouth and spouted such enlightened bon mots as "math is hard!" and "let's go shopping!" feminism be damned, barbie wants to shop and use a scientific calculator! sixteen years later and paris hilton is spreading an even better message across the world. what a lucky time to be alive.

while i don't agree with barbie on the math issue, i must say that i think she's onto something with the shopping. i like shopping. i do. i like nothing more than to stumble upon an unexpectedly free weekday morning and while away the time nosing through shops, stopping to try on a pair of pants or an accent, see how much the first season of six feet under is this week. i like to buy things every so often, but even more do i enjoy the luxury of the excursion. i feel decadent and carefree. and i feel even more decadent and carefree when i can street shop. shopping + open air = a good time for all involved.

imagine my great pleasure upon arriving in sydney and discovering that here almost all the shopping is done in a streetfront manner. the streets are lined with countless shops, shops hocking goods from the highest end ferragamo clutch to the lowest end second-hand adult books. look down what appears to be a mere alley or thoroughfare and you will discover a splendid open air plaza or galleria, three stories of boutiques and stationery shops and cafes twisting toward the sunny sky. there are several main streets dedicated to pedestrian traffic and breathing fresh air as you hop from soul pattinson chemists to surfdiveswim next door. the closest thing to a shopping centre in downtown sydney is a grand and perfectly ornate building simply called the queen victoria building. it is decidedly not a cadillac-fairview establishment, let me tell you.

i have grown rather accustom to this easy, breezy shopping culture and i must say that i enjoy it immensely. and so it was much to my chagrin earlier today when i looked up and found myself in what was unequivocally a mall. a mall, for pete's sake! recycled air. escalators. stirrup pants. it was all there. and you know what the worst part is? there was a kmart in the mall. a g.d. kmart. where am i? ingersoll, ontario?

the breathtaking crush of north america came almost immediately. i felt like if i didn't move quickly someone would ask me if i wanted to supersize my pop. or force me into a tracksuit.

so blinkingly out into the sunlight i staggered, gasping for air. fresh air. outdoor air. thank goodness. the malls will be there when i get home. but the streets of sydney and i only have so much time together. i think we're going to make the most of it if you don't mind.