I brought back pebbles from Ione for a friend who could not go. Ione had for him Christian religious significance. I brought back shells from the beach on the Adriatic near where relatives had lived. I washed these all off very carefully.

Oh my god, I just had a flash back to my junior high school days. One girl won the science fair with a project which was a huge map of the US onto which she had glued or somehow fastened down soil from every state, supposedly after sending off letters and having it returned. Several years later she admitted that it all came from her back yard because she never sent out the letters, or no one ever responded. She dyed some with food color to look different. <BR><BR>I have no idea what this has to do with this post, just had to share this flashback.

I collect sand from all the beaches I've been to in the world. I eventually called our agricultural department to make sure it was okay. They told me that I could bring sand into the country (Canada) but no soil.<BR>My only incident with my sand occurred on a beach and not at customs. After putting some sand in a plastic baggy I decided to take a walk on the beach (Mombasa, Kenya. A local approached me and whispered "was I selling that cocaine." I freaked. Needless to say I don't walk around the beach with my plastic baggy of sand anymore. I collect it and quickly put it away.

I'm sure that customs officials see tourists with stones all the time. My wife and I have a rock dish with pebbles from Nice, Walden Pond, the Acropolis, etc. I was talking to a friend who went to Europe for the first last year about this sort of thing. He said that he collected rocks on the trip, then admitted sheepishly that he'd come back with ca. 20 lb. of stones.

How about the fear of transporting hoof and mouth disease from the soil? I would think customs now days would put a stop to bringing in rocks and soil and sand. Don't you?

On a table I have some stones from the Yangzte River in a silver dish. Not too long ago added some chunks of salt from the Dead Sea. Recently decided one chunk looked a little dirty and decided to wash it. Sigh... melted away... just like my little grey cells seem to be doing.

Grandma, that is funny. <BR><BR>We brought back a 5 foot long piece of driftwood from Hawaii years ago, we had it put through luggage with a tag on it unwrapped. It made it through and we have it on the mantel now.

My gosh, I didn't realize so many other people collected rocks on vacation too.<BR>I have for years. <BR><BR>I have started painting the name on them of where they are from. I use acrylic paint and a small brush. Then I spray them with varnish. That way they always look wet. <BR><BR>My best rock is from Odegarden in Norway. It's the farmhouse my grandfather was born in. I will treasure it always.<BR><BR>Before coming back from vacation I wash the rocks off with water and wrap them up in paper in my suitcase. I've never had anybody stop me.<BR>Robbyn

My brother wants a grape vine piece to start growing his own, is it lawful to bring that back to US?

Goodness I too am very suprised at how many people collect rocks as souviners. As a geologist I have rocks from all over the world, and As other have said rocks (and beach sand) are fine, but NO SOIL. Soil contains the living organisms that can spread various problems (Hoof and Mouth etc,). Also it is very important not to transport ANY LIVING THING. Sorry no grapevines or flowers or fruit (and sometimes leather or wooden items) that may contain bugs that can cause out breaks like the Med fly. This is important for all travelers to remember. You can check out what is allowed or prohibited at the Duty and Customs agency of each country you are visiting (available on the web). I did this recently prior to my Australian visit. I was suprised at all the things that were prohibited for very good reasons. Be informed before you travel.

'ey, Marie, good t'ing your grandpa not from da Big Island. You take rocks from Kilauea an' Pele gon' get you.

I brought back a bag of small volcanic rock from the trek up Vesuvius. I saw a lady carrying a huge piece back to the tour bus we were on.

I too am howling at this thread. My penchant is for beach pebbles. Last fall I picked up a couple from Juno beach and tossed them in my day pack. Flying back I made sure my nail clippers and toothpicks (just kidding) were in checked luggage but I clued out about the rocks. We even had to go through a second xray and search upon arrival home for possible hoof and mouth since I admitted to having been in rural France. Not a problem anywhere.<BR>When some zealous idiot tries to highjack a plane by threatening to bash the pilot over the head with a beach pebble, we will all be in trouble.

I would love to bring back sand from my travels, you really mean it is ok to bring back a jar on the plane. It wouldn't carry germs or whatever in it?

My favourite is a chunk of the Great Pyramid at Giza, sits on my bedroom dressing table now.