Comments on: Swiss efficiency

By: Jacques

Jacques — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 13:11:46 +0000

Interested readers could also stroll through the market in Vintimille just across the French border; it’s probably even cheaper there

By: GHCH

GHCH — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 07:12:34 +0000

Dear Helena.

And to think, such a thing should happen chez moi.

If any of your readers are interested in beautifully made but bogus Birkin bags, they can be haggled down to €20 in any Bangkok street market (€15 in Phuket). And whatever Hermes may say, no, you can’t tell the difference – as any Geneva bag snatcher will tell you.

By: helena

helena — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 05:43:34 +0000

Hello Anne
I can tell you the name when I get my bag back but it is easy to find. Walk from the Ponte Vecchio on the same side of the river as the Dome towards the Grand Hotel. There are lots of small gorgeous shops on the right-hand side, about half-way between the two is my bag shop. It is tiny and run by a sweet couple. I bought the green one, a red one for the evening and a red wallet and they gave me some money off.
Have a lovely time!
Hx

By: Anne

Anne — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 01:16:02 +0000

Would you please share the name and address of your Florence shop that makes the Birkins? Would love to check it out when I’m there in a couple of weeks.
Thanks!

By: helena

helena — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 20:04:35 +0000

Hello Renee
It is not a real Hermes Birkin, but it is from a very up-market leather shop in Florence that does nothing but Birkins and all extremely good quality but obviously not for the same price. I went for the green as I fell in love with it. There was a pink one but I resisted and actually the green has been totally brilliant, it is a little brighter than the one in the picture and goes with everything, especially pink.
Hx

By: Renee

Renee — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 18:41:11 +0000

Dear Helena, I can’t help asking.. is it an Hermes Birkin? In any case I would love to hear how you decided on the color and where you purchased the bag. PS/ So happy to hear your belongings will be returned. Thank you, Renee.

By: helena

helena — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 17:34:07 +0000

Oh the poor woman! The most unhelpful comment from the otherwise very nice Swiss police was that “you should never carry your passports around.” That’s all very well but at airports I generally find them quite useful….
Hx

By: Antoine

Antoine — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 17:21:12 +0000

Dear Helena,

How lovely to have your handbag back – I was the victim of robbery in Brussels two years ago and the staff at the local British High Commission were anything but friendly, although they did give me a new passport within the week.

The worst was when the man behind the counter started shouting at this poor lady because there was a problem with the photos she had submitted. Apparently she was there to apply for a passport for her grandson and the clerk shouted “These photos are no good – Look at the eyes! The EYES! They’re not straight!” Rather flustered, she looked at the photos, then at him and said meekly “Yes, I know. He was born like that”