good afternoon everyone... a question before I go home for the afternoon. <BR><BR>do any of you collect a specific type of souvenir when you go on vacation?<BR><BR>for example, I collect all sorts of pottery. it started when I wanted a real teapot and then kind of took off. <BR><BR>I have a handmade milk server to go with the teapot (made by nuns in Ireland) and vases of various sizes from all over (Wales, Scotland, etc) and an herb container from France and a handmade spoon holder from France and water jugs from Italy and so on and so on. <BR><BR>anyone else have anything they collect as a sort of 'theme'?

I collect small dolls dressed in native costumes and they must be made from fabric, porcelain or the like, definitely not plastic! They're usually less than 8" tall. Very difficult to find these days. I have a large collection from all over the world first started by my mother 40 years ago. Dolls are the main item I search for. I did get a darling teapot in China with a certificate of origin to go with it and my friend said, "watch out, you'll get hooked on teapots." I could.

We have a tacky souvenir collection, which encompasses just about everything from Buckingham Palace shot glasses to a plastic gondola to erupting Mt. St. Helens salt & pepper shakers. It must be tacky, that's the key.<BR><BR>Aside from that, I do look for enamel signs in foreign languages, unusual (for the U.S.) kitchen utensils, and hand-made ceramics.

I collect pareus and speedos. both of which I cannot wear.

I'm not sure this falls into the "collectible souvenir" category, but I pick up things to remind me of a specific spot. Things like a chestnut from Luxenbourg Gardens in Paris, a hazelnut from the Melzi Gardens in Bellagio, sand from Omaha Beach and a leaf from the American Cemetery in Normandy, etc. I do the same thing on vacations in the U.S.: an acorn from Yosemite, a small piece of granite from Jenny Lake in the Tetons, etc.

I do the same as you Jean.<BR><BR>A little momento of the place I've visited.<BR><BR>Sand from the Phi Phi Islands, a stone from the pyramids, beer mat from Brussels, Saffron from Bangkok, etc etc<BR><BR>I'm not really into "souvenirs" from shops.

I thought it was illegal to remove anything from a US National Park.

anyone else?

I always try to find some type of Christmas ornament, postcards and picture frames (if I can find one I like).

I love to find good quality street signs. You have to look and I have found some lovely ones. PJ

Christmas ornaments and usually a small b&w print (3x5) of something 'native'. The castle in Heidelberg, gondolas in Venice, etc....

"Floaty" pens - the ones with a little figure that moves back and forth when you tilt them! Many cities and attractions have their own version, and they all (with the exception of a few in Asia) seem to be made by the same company in Denmark! (Which is actually pretty strange, when you come to think of it - does somebody own the international patent on these things?)

I collect "do not disturb" signs... What if I get caught?

Magnets.