BobbiJo

I posted this a few days ago but never saw it on the Ireland post....thought it was wonderful advice to pass on.

We returned last Friday from our Ireland trip. Just want to pass on great advice...a friend suggested I purchase a CD of Celtic songs and sounds as soon as we arrived in Ireland to play while touring the country. She also suggested purchasing a perfume or body lotion there to wear while on my vacation. I did do both of those suggestions......smelling the Inis Body Lotion while at work today brought back wonderful memories. The music made me smile on the way home from a long day at work. I highly recommend it.

ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS FOR MY NEXT TRIP?

mitchdesj

I think this is wonderful advice; I am one to be touched by music and aromatherapy so it appeals to me; thanks for the reminder.
This could be done in any country.

isabel

I often try to buy a CD of music when I travel. I have several now and they always bring back great memories when I'm listening to them. It's a great idea.

adrienne

I agree! I have a CD of a group of buskers (13 violinists and cellists) at the Place des Vosges in Paris and of course I use my Fragonard soap daily for a dose of Paris and Provence. Wonderful memories.

AGM_Cape_Cod

I do this another way. We bought Sel de Camargue and olive oil in Provence. As we put it on asparagus for dinner last night we thought back to our trip. My souvenirs are edible.

indytravel

I like to buy a magnet and put on my refrigerator. Every time I walk by or use it one catches my eye and I'm instantly transported back to someplace else.

I shuffle them around occasionally so I'm not always going to the same place.

jmw44

Now this is really silly, but I find excuses to purchase banal little things like scotchtape or bright plastic drinking straws or pens at my favorite destinations. If I'm frugal, I can use them bit by bit for a year or so, and there's such a rush each time I do. Do I need counseling? Oh, and I try to cook my food memories, but that sounds so much more reasonable. J.

cmt

That's a really nice idea. After a trip to France, I had little bags of lavender all over the house, and even in my desk at work, and a cotton ball soaked with lavender oil somewhere in my shoulder bag. Some people in my office used to say that they could smell France when I opened my desk. I rarely buy music on a trip, but that's a good idea, too. However, about five years ago, when it had been almost 30 years since I'd visited Sicily, I happened to find a very interesting CD of Sicilian music, which I played repeatedly, and which probably gave me a little extra push in my plans to visit Sicily again "some day." After each of two trips to Sicily since then, I've played it again to help me imagine and remember.

SeaUrchin

I also buy hand lotions, deodorant, hair oils and toothpaste to bring home, then my bathroom shelves have all the Italian names and writing on them, I probably need counseling too.

MaryZ

I have a number of wonderful woolen Irish sweaters in various colors. When I wear one of them on a cold winter day, I'm right back in the mists of the west coast of Ireland.

sfowler

I do much that has already mentioned.

I tend to buy "comestibles" -- and in the case of dried herbs when the contents are gone I'll refill them with some bought here -- so I am still handling the bottle

Giovanna

We buy small little paintings everywhere we visit, sometimes from the artists. We try to choose something that is typical of the area. It's wonderful to see them as we walk down our hallway and remember all the wonderful places we have been.

I too have a wonderfully orange scented cologne from Seville and a lemon scented cologne from Sorrento. Love to wear them particularly in the summer.

artlover

I wear mine nearly every day...a black leather jacket purchased in Spain...a purse in Italy and also scarves from all over--I give these as gifts as they are so easy to pack and light!

And yes, music. We purchased several CDs by Cameron in Spain as well as I group we hear in Seville called Ink America and we first heard Andrea Bocelli in Venice and purchased the CD there and have been huge fans ever since.

And yes, soap and lotion from France.

I intentionally purchase products from Europe in the U.S. which also brings back memories. When the tragedy happened in Madrid, DH went out and bought me several bottles of Spanish wine.

And, of course, I check in Fodors often, and you all bring back wonderful memories too (as well as future planning tips!)

JenniferW

I bought a CD on my honeymoon in Hawaii and it is a great reminder of that trip.

I also buy perfume on trips and it takes me right back when I wear it.

Another great thing is to buy Christmas ornaments....then months later when I am decorating my tree I get to see these ornaments that I forgot about and they are a great memory of each trip I took.

Fodorite018

We also do the cd, perfume, paintings, magnets and Christmas ornaments. But one of my favorites is tableclothes and dishes...used daily they are a constant reminder And when they get worn out it just means you need to go again!