Venturing out in the city

After breakfast, we set out walking to find the American Girl Doll shop. I promised Kennady we would take her there, so she buy a "souvenir" with her money she had saved. Well, I have never in my life seen such a huge money trap. I mean, when I walked in the Apple store to buy my iPhone, I briefly had this thought. But hey, we NEED iPhones, iPod Touches, iPads, etc. It's part of our life. But what we DON'T need is a $100+ doll that does nothing. Absolutely nothing. It doesn't drink a bottle like my dolls used to, nor can you change it's diaper where it wet. You can't marry her up to your Ken doll later in life....it just sits on it's pretty Princess Grace-like BE-hind and allows you to buy $50 outfits for it to wear (accessories not included). This shop is two stories of pure molded-plastic bliss! You first go through aisles and aisles of display cases with the different dolls displayed in different themes. You not only have to pick your doll, you have to choose what it's first outfit/theme will be. Glamour? Schoolgirl? Sports chick? Indian motif? They've got it all covered. Once you finally decide on your doll, outfit, and accessories, guess what else they have thought of for you to do? You can get your photo made by a professional photographer with you and your doll. THEN.....then.....you venture upstairs to the BACK. Oh....MY....Gosh. The BACK has: A Doll Hair Salon, A place where they will pierce your dolls ears, a place where you can get a special TShirt airbrushed for your doll, a Cafe where you can lunch with your doll....and, most importantly....a Doll HOSPITAL. She is bound to get sick, with all of the germs being tossed around in this huge store. It was all so amazing...(ly ridiculous). But Kennady was so happy she was able to choose a doll and an outfit....she didn't even ask to go through all the other hoopla. I guarded that bag with my life while walking the 10 blocks back to the hotel.