On this last trip to Tuscany, <BR>I went to the COOP the last day <BR>and bought olive oil hand soap, <BR>spices in these great little <BR>bottles with tops that turn into <BR>grinders when inverted, and of <BR>course toothpast and toothbrushes. <BR>Also little steel cooking pots <BR>with 2 handles. All were inexpensive. <BR>

JOdy (is this intentional) you left out a couple of things. Women may check out the premium tomatoes, the plum tomatoes, the tomatoes on the vine, the hydroponic tomatoes, the vine ripened tomatoes, checks the prices, gives them all a good squeeze and then NOT buy anthing. A man may check prices, research the diff between premium, plum hydroponic etc and already have chosen which ones he wants to get before he ever leaves his lazy-boy and the game. <BR>

Where to start??? <BR>Italy: Paper goods, photo albums (Florence)pottery (Vietri sul Mare), Illy coffee (half the price it is here) beautiful colored pasta, Limoncello, soap from Positano, leather goods(purses and wallets)shoes <BR>France: Food items from different regions, cheese, olives, olive oil, fois gras, raclette, glass frames ( I have the perscription filled at home)clothing <BR>I love it all

Hi Art, <BR>The JO started out unintentional, I have a lazy shift finger, then I decided it was distictive! There are lots of Jody"s on this forum. When your name is Jo Anne de Marais , one gets many strange variations, my favorite being Jade Marais!! I may change it! <BR>Now Art, If you don't leave your lazy-boy and do all your research in front of your computer and from Consumer's report, you are still just a buyer. In order to be a shopper, you have to leave the house, dressed appropiately in black, feel the ambiance of the marketplace, smell the smells, feel the goods, check the color,interact with the shopkeepers, and there never was a woman ALIVE that didn't buy after all that, maybe not what she came for but we do buy!!

ttt

Greece:Thyme honey,goes best with fresh baguette for breakfast,then a cup of tea from Fotnum and Mason, London.

In Greece I bought some native, colorful dishes and I have received so many positive comments on them.

I was fortunate enough to hit the January sale in Ireland and got a beautiful, John Roche Waterford vase for $150. It retails for $385 in the US. And the best part is that I'll always have a great memory of my trip.

i have a shoe fettish so in Italy shoes and purses. In central america accessories like handmade neckalces things like that. I've been to austria several times and haven't bought anything, except I ate at what has to be one of the best Thai restaurants in the world.. The airport in Brussels is a good place for perfume and it really isn't that expensive. <BR>

JOdy - thanks so much...yes, pietra dura WAS the name for the Florentine mosaics we bought!! <BR>

TTT

Just got back from Germany and Austria <BR> We bought steins in Germany,porcelain dolls,castle coasters,prints, and handcarved wood figures from Oberammagau.In Salzburg we bought Mozart balls,Swarzkowski crystal, and tee-shirts from Mozart's birthplace and of course a Mozart CD.From Austria we bought potholders, lace,petit point purses,an Augarten porcelain vase, Lippanzer horse coasters and figurines, small porcelain "Sissy" boxes from Schonbrunn Palace,sacher torte in small boxes from the Sacher Hotel and a CD of a live symphony from the Opera House. <BR> When we went to Iceland we bought sweaters,troll dolls,and tolietries made from the minerals in the Blue Lagoon. <BR> Lace from England,a Christmas bowl,a trivet from Bath,teeshirts from London,tee-shirt from WimbledonChristmas (Dickens) ornaments and Harrods sweets to go!!

Interested in shopping for Louis Vitton in Rome. Anyone check out the prices <BR>compare to U.S.? <BR> <BR>Let me know, Thanks

I have a bunch of favorite things from our travels. We try to buy something that is symbolic of the country, yet something we can enjoy. <BR> <BR>In France, definitely the wine. The prices are very reasonable. We also bought some pictures from artists on the street and brought them home and framed them. <BR> <BR>In Portugal, the pottery. I found a great little olive dish that we love. I bought a couple and gave them as gifts. <BR> <BR>In Spain, I bought a Lladro. It was about 50% less than you would pay in America. We bought two figurines - a Spanish dancer and a Bullfighter. <BR> <BR>In Switzerland, I couldn't resist the chocolate! <BR> <BR>In Germany, we bought a decorative beer Stein. We also found some unique Christmas ornaments. <BR> <BR>Enjoy shopping!

Both my sister-in-law & a friend were pregnant during my time in Italy & I purchased for them in Venice some christening gowns for the babies with nice embroidery & lace. <BR> <BR>Kathy

I enjoy purchasing perfume made in the country I am visiting. I remember the trip every time Iuse it. For example: in Ireland, perfume scented with wildflowers from the Burren. (In Moscow I needed to convince the salesperson that I truly wanted "Russian made" perfume rather than the imported French. She was positive we were miscommunicating.)

Favorite purchases in Paris: clothes, clothes and more clothes. This was two years ago, and I now have a stunning and still stylish wardrobe of winter suits for work. Also purses and lingerie: both the leather goods and lingerie departments at Galeries Lafayette are to die for. <BR> <BR>Now can someone help me: I'm headed to Italy (Rome and Tuscany) in October. I'd love to buy some great bed linens. Are Frette and Pratesi much cheaper there than in the U.S.? Are there places where they (or comparable quality goods) are discounted (especially in Rome)? <BR> <BR>Thanks.

I agree with Doug!! Fa men's deodorant, but I buy mine in Hungary. My three sons and husband love it too!! I stock up on it every year I go to Hungary.

To the top.

I must respectfully bow my head to the more experienced shoppers out there...whew.. <BR>I did buy an enormous amount of hand embroidered table wear in Greece.. at such insanely low prices, it felt like stealing. <BR>Otherwise, the only things I buy are colorful guide books that are sold at each location I visit.. big glossy books or Windsor Castle, or Notre Dame.. I love to read up on all the things I've seen that day, or the next year. <BR>Wispas chocolate bars just send me over the top! I love Wispas regular or Caramel.... I buy them in masses and just TRY to ration myself to only eating one per day for the duration of the trip. <BR>Milk Chocolate Digestive Biscuits are another thing that become addicting!

For my fellow Fa fans: Just got back from a trip to London-Paris-Madrid. No Fa in the first two towns, but I brought back 12 cans from Madrid. It was less than $2.00 per can while on the internet, they go for $7.00 per can!

To the top.

Kitchen utensils that are different from what i find here (cheese grators, etc.) and ceramics in italy.

There is nothing like the little tingle of joy I feel when using some wonderful little thing that I found in Europe and can't find here. (yes, even toothpaste) In the Algarve(Portugal) you can find AWESOME pottery stores along the coast. Incredible deals on the most beautiful pottery. I cherish the plates, pitchers, tiles,and even the soap dispenser I bought there. Also in the Algarve, look for the sheepskin slippers for $20. and you'll wish you'd bought two pairs. In Paris,Arche Shoes,my favorite,different styles and much lower prices than we get in the US. I love the pharmacies in Europe. I stock on Kneipp's bath oils and gels, Phyto hair products, Badedas bath gels(can't find that here)Klorane eye makeup remover (the best)---way cheaper in Europe then here in the U.S.and bigger sizes. For the woman who loves Longchamp, their store in Lisboa had lower prices than anywhere in France, all the same styles. I love my handbag from there. In Sevilla, avoid tourist shops for silk shawls and look on the back streets in the authentic local shops,for the most awesome silk embroidered shawls you have ever seen. They are big, beautiful, and under $100. I don't know how they do that? I will cherish forever the one I bought there and the beautiful experience of doing it, in one of the most magical places. In Madrid and Barcelona, one can find in the better shops devoted to leather, gorgeous suede and leather jackets and coats. The prices will blow you away. We love ours and people are always wondering where we bought them. The little thrill of the find. Buy it when you see it, because it's too difficult to go back and look for it again! I've made that mistake,too. When I was a kid my parents often took me to Switzerland, where I would stock up on Lindt chocolate bars of all flavors but now even though you can find those here in the US, they don't taste as good as the ones you buy there! To find the odd thing that is designed by someone for their own little shop in London, Paris, Barcelona, Arles, etc, is so much fun.<BR>The biggest problem is the French baguette. You have to buy them and eat them there!

Let's keep this one going. So much fun.

Bring this one back to the top.....

Hiking boots in Switzerland and Germany. The selection is so much better than in the USA. You can get styles that you never see in the store here.

I am a sterling silver nut. I absolutely love to collect tableware. <BR>I love buying in England and find some really good deals at local auctions.<BR>The one piece of advise I would give to someone wanting to shop in Europe is buy what you like, dont buy just because it has a famous label. I saw many beautiful things such as shoes and handbags. They did not have names that I recognized but had exquisite craftmanship. Those are the things that I get the most complements on when I wear them. Anyway I hope to get back to Europe as I am always eager and ready to "contribute" to the local economy.

I have a new collection going now so when we travel, I look for Roosters :)<BR>Yes, roosters-ceramic roosters for the kitchen counter,primitive art for the walls, a rooster pitcher,anything chicken-y ~maybe cause I am still just a chick?

On a day trip to St. Paul de Vence during a trip to the South of France I bought 2 original watercolors that depict scenes of the village. They were expensive and cost an arm and a leg to mat and frame. But...they are now over my couch in the living room. One of the paintings is of a fountain the the middle of town. I had a wonderful lunch in a restaurant that had a terrace on the 2nd floor overlooking that same fountain. I can insert myself in those paintings over and over again.<BR><BR>Lisa

Eastern European women.

I like to find angel Christmas ornaments to add to my collection in my travels. Any special places to find ornaments? Nice, Florence Naples Rome Malta or Messina (Yes we are cruising!)<BR>I skimmed this but noone mentioned faience. Bought a beautiful lamp had custom made and shipped home in Moustieres St marie by a shop I think called sun in French- located down the road from inn owned by Alain Ducasse. Not name dropping (did not stay or eat there) it sjust happens to be where it is situated.--And the lamp was not too pricey! h

I buy key rings. I have one from venice and one from Cordoba and differnt ones for the car and for each door,. They bring back great memories. Also I have a lovely small tray I got from Annecy with the lake on it . Lovely to have a cup of tea using it.<BR>Jane

We have some of our fondest memories from some of the handcrafted things we have picked up in small towns. They were nor expensive (mostly) and made locally and a lot of fun to have around. I do not get too excited about buying the stuff that will wear out (clothing) or that you eat or drink.

In Germany, I bought a Cuckoo clock and some lovely bier steins.<BR><BR>In Ireland, woolen sweaters and a beautiful "history" of Ireland ring.

In Asia, I love to buy fabric, then have clothing tailor made, completed in a day! Also, in Asia, velvet bags, gemstones, silk lanterns, handpressed paper & journals.<BR><BR>In Europe, oh, the 'usual': perfume oils, soaps, more soaps, olive oil and clothing from one of the many 'puces'.<BR><BR>One of my favorite things is hanging on my front door: a tile from Sienna that says 'attenti di canne' (beware of dog). I like it because the dog is black (like mine), it's a great design, and my dog is super mellow; a rug w/feet. I get a chuckle every time I come home.

Bringing this one back up to the top.

ttt

Pretty much anything that's not nailed down. LOL

Prague has beautiful and cheap scarves (lovely paisleys and solids in every color) at all of the touristy shops in the old city. I brought back some for gifts and one or two for myself. I always get compliments and wish I had brought back a bigger stack.