does anyone know where we can get some good olive oil to take back home with us? How do we get it home? ship it? what about balsamic vinegar?

rlm-- a few weeks or more past there was a couple of postings re: olive oil and balsamic vinegar. I just put each one, (one at a time) into the search box and those posts popped up. You may enjoy reading them as they will answer your question.

Knowing what country you are going to be in would be very helpful.

Linda-- my bet is Italy as it is the only country I know of that produces aceto balsamico- balsamic vinegar. The references I alluded to were for Italy.

A handy item to take with you are some gallon zip lock bags. If the olive oil container breaks, it will not ruin the remainder of your contents. We also use them for the wine we buy.

I pulled up an old posting "Quality of Italian Olive Oil" which you will find under the Italy section.

Rlm still won't say what country, so why not wait until he reveals this.

I thought balsamic vinegar only comes from Modena or not?

Ian- you are right. <BR> <BR>As an importer of balsamic vinegar it traditionally is produced in Modena, ITALY. However, I know suppliers in Naples who state on their label, "Balsamic Vinegar of Modena" but when you look at their doc number (on each bottle of the stuff) it shows, "NA" for Naples. Unfair advertising? Modena is the place and, "MO" should show on bottle.

This is one of my best travel secrets. I always go to the grocery store to buy the local olive oils from that region. They run about 1/3 of the cost of the same brand in tourist shops. I've purchased several differnt kinds from all over Italy and Spain. The above reference to the zip lock bag for spills is a must! I've gone so far as to take a smaller carry on bag (like those tour operaters give you) and pack it into my luggage. If something spills, at least all is not ruined...

Not sure where you are going, but if it's Italy, skip the olive oil there and go to Spain to get it directly. A large portion of Italy's olive oil is produced from olives grown in Spain! Whether it's Italian or Spanish olive oil though, they are both delicious!

Greek olive oil from Kalamata is the best in the world

I went to our local sporting good store and purchased waterproof bags to carry my oil in and also to carry my shampoos and such in, spills do occur often!