Sunday 19 October 2014

Tourist trapped in UK bookstore






Stunning El Ateneo bookstore in Buenos Aires was once a theater. The theater boxes have been turned into reading spaces. Stunning El Ateneo bookstore in Buenos Aires was once a theater. The theater boxes have been turned into reading spaces.

Paris Left Bank fixture Shakespeare and Company hosts writers-in-residence and awards its own literary prize to an aspiring writer every few years. Paris Left Bank fixture Shakespeare and Company hosts writers-in-residence and awards its own literary prize to an aspiring writer every few years.

The stylish Last Bookstore in Los Angeles served as the backdrop for a fashion shoot in a recent issue of "Esquire." The stylish Last Bookstore in Los Angeles served as the backdrop for a fashion shoot in a recent issue of "Esquire."

Built in 1906 and originally designed as a bookstore, the Livraria Lello in Porto, Portugal, features neo-Gothic architectural flair. Built in 1906 and originally designed as a bookstore, the Livraria Lello in Porto, Portugal, features neo-Gothic architectural flair.


Luxury publisher Assouline's newest opening is in an 18th-century palazzo in Venice.

Luxury publisher Assouline's newest opening is in an 18th-century palazzo in Venice.

This 800-year-old former Dominican church in Maastricht, Netherlands, was converted into a bookstore in 2006. Boekhandel Dominicanen hosts 140 literary events a year. This 800-year-old former Dominican church in Maastricht, Netherlands, was converted into a bookstore in 2006. Boekhandel Dominicanen hosts 140 literary events a year.

China's most beautiful bookstore, Librairie Avant-Garde in Nanjing, is housed in an underground parking lot that once served as a bomb shelter. China's most beautiful bookstore, Librairie Avant-Garde in Nanjing, is housed in an underground parking lot that once served as a bomb shelter.

Housed in a former glove factory in Detroit, Michigan, John K. King Used & Rare Books has more than a million books organized into 900 categories.Housed in a former glove factory in Detroit, Michigan, John K. King Used & Rare Books has more than a million books organized into 900 categories.

Located in a 150-year-old former speakeasy, Books for Cooks in Melbourne, Australia, has 30,000 cookbooks in stock. Located in a 150-year-old former speakeasy, Books for Cooks in Melbourne, Australia, has 30,000 cookbooks in stock.

The world's largest used and new bookstore Powell's City of Books takes up a full city block in Portland, Oregon.The world's largest used and new bookstore Powell's City of Books takes up a full city block in Portland, Oregon.

Thanks to her Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee, "Bel Canto" author Ann Patchett has become the inadvertent spokesperson for independent bookstores.Thanks to her Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee, "Bel Canto" author Ann Patchett has become the inadvertent spokesperson for independent bookstores.

Breakfast on the weekend at bookstore and cafe Cafebreria El Pendulo in Mexico City is accompanied by live classical music. Breakfast on the weekend at bookstore and cafe Cafebreria El Pendulo in Mexico City is accompanied by live classical music.


Stanfords Bookstore in the heart of Covent Garden in London is one of the world's finest travel book shops.

Stanfords Bookstore in the heart of Covent Garden in London is one of the world's finest travel book shops.

One of China's newest bookstores, 1200 Bookshop in Guangzhou is open 24 hours and offers a free stay to backpackers who apply by email in advance. One of China's newest bookstores, 1200 Bookshop in Guangzhou is open 24 hours and offers a free stay to backpackers who apply by email in advance.

The century-old London bookseller Foyles' new flagship store is the largest bookshop to open in the UK this century and is housed in the former Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. The stage where the Sex Pistols played their first gig in 1975 now houses the Foyles' children's department. The century-old London bookseller Foyles' new flagship store is the largest bookshop to open in the UK this century and is housed in the former Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. The stage where the Sex Pistols played their first gig in 1975 now houses the Foyles' children's department.

Strand on Broadway is the only survivor of Manhattan's old "Book Row" -- a now-extinct district of bookstores. Strand on Broadway is the only survivor of Manhattan's old "Book Row" -- a now-extinct district of bookstores.

Taipei's massive Eslite Dunnan Store has been open 24 hours a day, seven days a week since 1999.Taipei's massive Eslite Dunnan Store has been open 24 hours a day, seven days a week since 1999.








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  • Texan David Willis wandered into London book store to use free WiFi

  • Willis made phone calls after realizing he was locked in, but no one initially came to his aid

  • He was released after three hours when his social media posts were spotted




(CNN) -- There's nothing like getting stuck into a good book -- but getting stuck in a good book store is a different matter.


Just ask David Willis, a tourist from Texas who was inadvertently locked inside a London retailer for several hours, after strolling in minutes before the store was closing.


Willis, from Dallas, entered the Waterstones store near London's Trafalgar Square on Thursday evening to use the store's WiFi.


"I walked into the store about five minutes before 9 p.m.," he told the UK's ITV television network.


"I walked in right past employees and I needed to use the internet... I peeked up on the second floor and saw there were chairs and a table up there so I walked up there and was using the internet for 10 or 15 minutes and all the lights were on upstairs.


"I get ready to leave and I walk down and it's completely dark and the doors were locked."


Willis said despite setting an alarm off by trying to open the doors and speaking to a security guard and police via telephone, no one came to his aid.


After several hours of waiting, he took to social media to broadcast his plight, posting on Twitter and Instagram.












That did the trick. As his messages were retweeted thousands of times, a Waterstones employee spotted them and secured his release.


The bookstore posted its own Twitter message shortly afterward, announcing: "We're pleased to announce that @DWill_ is a free man once more. Thanks for your concern and tweets!"







After three hours in captivity, Willis followed that with his own Twitter declaration: "I'm free".


Speaking the morning after his ordeal, Willis told ITV: "I'm very tired, I did not sleep very much last night but it feels good to be free."







READ MORE: The world's coolest bookstores



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