Buying presents for a significant other is hard enough as it is. But what if the one thing your beau wants most is only available on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean?

One American redditor, user kenziespeights, brought this unusual predicament to Reddit’s London community: “My girlfriend is absolutely obsessed with a little hand bag that is not available online, but only available in store, in London.”

The handbag in question? A Skinnydip brand purse fashioned to look like a pink flamingo, which was only in stock at Topshop Oxford Circus in London.

Of course, it wasn’t just about the purse.

“My girlfriend has been in a really rough place lately,” kenziespeights explains in her post, “and being able to surprise her with something she thinks is absolutely impossible to get would put the biggest smile on her face.”

Recognizing a chance to take part in a grand romantic gesture, an ex-pat from Atlanta—Reddit user atlbeer—volunteered, noting that he works near the shop that carries the purse.

The evening after accepting his mission, atlbeer posted proof of his new purchase—adding, “Operation Flamingo Transport has begun.”

“Flamingo purse acquired … Operation Flamingo Transport has begun.” —Reddit user atlbeer

But that wasn’t the end of it.

Instead of mailing the bag from London and billing kenziespeights for the shipping costs, atlbeer said he was already planning a trip to NYC in a few days—so he offered to hand-deliver the bag to the US to save kenziespeights money with the transport.

As atlbeer waited for the day of his trip to arrive, however, he decided to have some fun with the old bird.

In an update for the Londoners following this strange journey unfold on Reddit, atlbeer posted pictures of what he and the flamingo were up to.

The purse was atlbeer’s plus-one at a house party:

(It even helped with the clean-up.)

But the purse didn’t stay cooped up all week. Atlbeer toured the beaky bag around all of London’s best sights.

They stopped for a photo-op by the Tower of London:

They took a stroll by the water near Elizabeth Tower (AKA Big Ben):

Before long, it was time for atlbeer and his clutch companion to leave London:

But atlbeer learned that when you grow this attached to a purse, there’s always time for one last glass of wine as both of you try not to cry in the airport lounge:

But again, that wasn’t the end of it—because atlbeer and his “pleathered friend” just couldn’t resist exploring NYC together.

They ate authentic New York bagels:

They looked up in awe at the lights of Times Square, feeling like they were truly alive for the first time:

The purse even got to ponder a Picasso at the Museum of Modern Art:

But all great journeys must come to an end (at least the third time), and as the pair’s Big Apple sequel came to a close, atlbeer sadly parted ways with the frolicsome flamingo.

He posted this final image—letting kenziespeights know that her purse was en route—with a simple caption: “Farewell, my pink friend.”

Kenziespeights hasn’t given the world-traveling flamingo purse to her girlfriend yet, but she thought of another gift to place within the bag once it arrives: a scrapbook of atlbeer’s pictures, as a memento of the purse’s adventures.

As for atlbeer, well, he shares in a comment, “I have a flamingo-sized hole in my carry-on (and my heart) …”

Anyone in London need a purse from New York?