While Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was pissing off Western leaders or chilling in his fancy hotel suite, members of his staff have been... sightseeing and shopping at Payless Shoes, Duane Reace and Costco. A source told the Daily News,"Since they are under sanctions, they can’t get this stuff."
”This stuff" being items like shampoos, vitamins, Tylenol, and shoes. The News reports, "One Iranian visitor debated dropping $40 for a pair of kids’ shoes Monday at a Payless on Fifth Ave. before finally springing for the footwear, the delegation insider said. The inexpensive footwear was enough to almost empty the Iranian’s wallet." The insider explained that the Iranian "money is weak compared to the dollar."
It's believed 140 people are in the delegation, which includes families (many of whom apparently enjoyed visiting the Statue of Liberty). One tourist, staying at the Warwick Hotel where Iran booked two floors, said that security was tight, "I thought somebody would throw a bomb or something," but said that the Iranians she met were "very nice people, especially the ladies. When I said, ‘Where are you from?’ they said, ‘Persia.’ They didn’t want to say they were from Iran."
By the way, Ahmadinejad is upset that the U.S. didn't given Osama bin Laden a trial.
