Hi everyone. I recently spotted a posting about gifts for an Italian host, so I thought I'd throw this out to you all. I'm stumped!

We are visiting a former Belgian au pair in Crete in Sept. She invited us to stay with her family at her in law's house on Crete. I have met our hosts only once. Their invitation is very generous - we will be there 6 nights. Can anyone suggest anything appropriate from New England? The airline rules are so strict now that my homemade jams or anything else liquid is out. Of course we will treat them to a meal out while there and also offer to help with cooking, etc.

Wow, six nights is so generous, if at all possible, I would try to enlist the help of your former au pair. Hopefully you have enough of a bond with her that you can be candid about wanting to give something special, that these particular in-laws would find delightful -- and tell her not to be shy in naming something, whether it is something that can be bought in Crete to be presented at the end of your stay, or something to bring from the US.

If you're lucky, she'll help you select something perfect in Crete that the folks have been talking about having for a while but didn't get around to buying.

Just show you don't show up empty handed, you might think about bringing a very nice coffee table book of beautiful New England landscapes and seascapes, even if it is heavy.

Oh no, not another coffee table book! Everybody does that and once you've leafed through them they are disregarded and a nuisance on the coffee table.
What about a nice print or watercolor, a Shaker box, a small hand-made quilt?

Really? That's what you do with books of photographs? I don't.

When I lived in New York, a Spanish journalist friend of mine brought me a really enormous book of photographs of the paradors of Spain and their surroundings. I loved it, and I used it to plan my trips to Spain.

If I had a summer house in Maine or Cape Cod, I'd love to have a book with beautiful pictures of Crete for the coffee table.

I've nothing again little quilts and Shaker boxes (although both would get less use from me than an art book), but I generally like to select my own art to hang on wall, and am pretty fussy about original art.

Part of the reason I suggested the book of beautiful pictures would be to extend an invitation to come stay in New England as guests of cindyj.

Hello Zeppole, I wonder if the book from your Spanish friend is "Historical Paradors" A Journey Through Spanish Hotels by Juan Eslava Galan. I ask as I have that book and I love it.

I have many books regarding various locations in Italy and other places in the world and I love my books. They were all gifts and I treasure each and every one.

Zeppole

Yes ! They are probably not as "arty" as the one you were given... I have 3 on Geneva, 2 on Hamburg plus a few others and my coffee table is not that big.

A chacun ses goûts.......

LoveItaly,

I can't check! When I moved to Italy, I gave away my entire book collection, and my photography books went to a friend who collects them. A new Italian friend of mine just sent me a huge, beautiful book of Italian travel posters of the 20th c. You know, gorgeous palm trees and propeller airplanes in blue skies, Vesuvio and the words: SORRENTO. It's going to be right on the coffee table, but I do think I'm going to have one or two blown up for the walls.

Pvoyageuse,

The photographs in the books were works of art, yes (not "arty" books) -- but "oui."

Ah Zeppole, I am sorry you were not able to take your books to Italy with you but I understand. My Roman born and bred son-in-law left over 3,000 books in his house in Rome when he came here to California ten years ago. The cost of having them shipped would be outrageous. I wish he had his books however. The book of Italian posters sounds wonderful, what a lovely gift Zeppole, Italians always seem to present the most wonderful presents. Best regards.