Sandi

I forgot to mention something. I also try to get good pictures, and it takes a lot of shots to get the perfect picture sometimes. But my walls at home and in my office are decorated only with pictures that I have taken from trips. It means so much more to me than something you could buy at the mall or through Home Interiors. I have different groupings, some more personal with pictures of myself and the friends I've traveled with (I have several different sets of friends I travel with, basically some are more adventerous than others about where or how long they will go for). Others are the scenic pictures, with no people in them. I'm getting to the point now where I will have to rearrange, because my walls are getting full! But that's something I can live with.

Sandi

Carol

I like to get kitchen stuff because I use it all the time: cotton/linen souvenir dishtowels; pot holders; refrigerator magnets (up to a point!); soap holders; salad implements, etc., etc., etc.

Kim

My favorite souvenirs:

Suit bought at Galeries Lafayette
Bottle of Creme de Cassis to make Kirs
Earl Grey Tea & Tapenade from Fauchon
Cheesy Eiffel Tower replica
Prints of my favorite paintings from the appropriate museum

Vive la France!

Glenn

While we bring back Eiffel Tower key chains for our employees, for our own memories we get the poster from the current special show from the museum: from Paris, the Musee d'Orsay exhibition of Millet and Van Gogh two years ago. We have them framed and hang them in the bedroom. We now have posters from London, Amsterdam, Paris and Madrid.

Art

I used to get pins that I could put on my Bavarian hat, but started to collect coffee cups whilst traveling the states. I have a shelf dedicated to coffie cups and bier steins. I have also picked up a few prints to frame and a couple of decorative plates.

Kathryn

HI,
Five years ago I bought a pink sponge in the shape of the Eiffel Tower--it still has a place of honor in our bathroom. I am going back to Paris in November and hope the souvenir places still have those colorful sponges!

Kathryn

SharonM

I bought my cashmere winter coat in Paris, along with a beautiful scarf from a street vendor...Everytime I wear them, I think of Paris and imagine how "Parisian" I look...
I also really like the miniature paintings I've bought in Paris, Amsterdam and other cities, which I've bought from street vendors depicting colorful street scenes. They were so inexpensive and I have since framed them and they look great!
I've gotten to the point in my travels where I tend to buy one nice, small object that is not necessarily representative of where I bought it, but will remind me of the DAY I bought it! (i.e. antique door knocker from Egypt bought at a flea market in Berlin, perfume bottle, etc...)
I also collect match books from everywhere I've stayed or dined...It's really fun to go back and look through them and remember! (handy, too, if you forget the name of a place you've been to!)

xxx

I keep thinking every time I go to Paris that I will come back with some item of intimate apparel given to me directly by Juliette Binoche.

Art

A French maid??

karin

The last time we were in paris...aahh...
sorry for the digression...back to the question, I found some beautiful glass wine stoppers at Au Printemps.
k

topper

.

Joan

A street artist did the most beautiful portraits of our two teenage children. I will always treasure this keepsake.

Judy

Hi all, great ideas! I brought back some tapestry pillows, purchased at Musee d'Cluny,,,they look great on my bed....they are easy to transport(you stuff them when you get home)...cost anywhere from $10-$35,,,beautiful medieval scenes(The Lady & the Unicorn), lovely colors; made in France.

Sams

Paintings purchased from local artists in front of Sacre Coeur. I see these everyday and remember with much pleasure my trip to France.

richardab

-A little metal Eiffel Tower
-French Sea Salt from Bon Marche Gourmet
-A Dijon mustard jar from Maille
-Clothing from Au Printemps
-2 bottles of Wine from Nicolas Wine Shop
-Soap from Marseilles
-Foie Gras from Fauchon
-Duvet Covers

Roxy

While waiting for my daughter, I happened to wander into a jewelry store and spotted a very unique opal ring.
I debated about buying it but knew I'd kick myself later if I didn't purchase it. I'm so glad I did!! I wear it everyday and it reminds me of my beautiful trip to Paris.
Also, the trip was a gift from my husband for our 25th wedding anniversary and it will always remind me of how generous he is!!

mary

My favorites are my carte orange pass, a labyrinth medal from Chartres, and a ticky-tacky little Eiffel Tower (which I bought in a rush and was too embarrassed to give anyone later on). The pass reminds me of all the great places its tiny ticket helped me get to; the medal keeps in mind a personally liberating experience at Chartres; and in the middle of work, I can look up at that dumb faux Tower on my monitor, and, weirdly enough, I'm THERE at the real Tower (stress management for a mere 10 francs).

Hits with friends and family were medals from Notre Dame and Chartres--whether someone was religious or not didn't matter.

Pierrette

Jars of pate and tins of cassoulet.
Creme de cassis for kirs. I buy these at grocery stores. Next time I will go to Fragonard's thanks to some of you.
I think I will have a kir roght now you have made me so lonesome for Paris.

pierrette

Oops make that right now (haven't had the kir yet)

Joan

I love to shop for souvenirs and bring back hokey little things for people I know. Everyone always loves being remembered and having a treat from far away. Like Steve, I bought a handful of miniature Eiffel Towers for the girls in my stitching group and they loved them! Also brought them soap from Marseille and miniature perfume bottles. They were thrilled!

For myself, I too bought the refrigerator magnets (glance at them everyday) and a minature Eiffel Tower that sits on my desk at work. Everytime I look at it I'm transported back to that memory "I was standing right there!!"

My favorite souvenir is a beautiful bottle of Lalique Parfum that I purchased at Galeries Layfayette. It is the most gorgeous bottle! Very unique.

Most fun - I popped into the Virgin Megastore on Champs Elysees and purchased Edith Piaf's 35th Anniversary CD. Fantastic!

Silliest souvenir - I went to a toy store and bought a toy "Smart" car - it's almost life size! Too cute.

What shopping pleasure - fun, fun, fun!!