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http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4105370/how-to-have-my-cart-link-outside-of-top-links

<?php
// this will print the url of the cart link:
//   http://popwebserver03.com/projects/vxpower/index.php/checkout/cart/
<?php echo Mage::helper('checkout/cart')->getCartUrl(); ?>

which can then be used in <a href  link