Carol

I forgot to mention the perfumes and chocolates I bring home from Paris--I guess it's because I don't think of them as souvenirs but as necessities!

Linda

I buy refrigerator magnets from each trip that reminds of the place I visited. From Spain... a paella magnet; From Paris... a flower shop front; from Vienna... a violin; from Amsterdam... a window from the Red Light district. <BR>I love these... they're not expensive, and I am reminded of the pleasant times everyday. <BR>And where possible, inexpensive prints that I have then have mounted. <BR>I try not to spend too much time shopping, but engaging the place that I'm in.

meg

Besides pictures and memories, on a trip to Brazil I purchased from an Indian on the Amazon a pirahna (mounted on a brazil nut)for my husband(incidentally I did go pirahna fishing) and on that same trip I bought in the city a tea cup and saucer that had scripture from the Bible in portuguese on the inside of the cup. Some years ago my husband and I went to England and I purchased a doll of Henry the 8th in Windsor. We had just come across where he is buried. I've always found Henry quite fascinating. We also purchased some Waterford crystal goblets on that same trip in Scotland and they always brings back those special feelings we shared on the trip when we drink out of them. England is still my favorite place to visit and I look forward to going back.

meg

Besides pictures and memories, on a trip to Brazil I purchased from an Indian on the Amazon a pirahna (mounted on a brazil nut)for my husband(incidentally I did go pirahna fishing) and on that same trip I bought in the city a tea cup and saucer that had scripture from the Bible in portuguese on the inside of the cup. Some years ago my husband and I went to England and I purchased a doll of Henry the 8th in Windsor. We had just come across where he is buried. I've always found Henry quite fascinating. We also purchased some Waterford crystal goblets on that same trip in Scotland and they always brings back those special feelings we shared on the trip when we drink out of them. England is still my favorite place to visit and I look forward to going back.

kat

This is a really neat thread. I have saved some small bottles of sand from the various beaches I have been to.

Maira

Kat reminded me!!! I also try to collect rocks, sand or soil from spots that have special significnce to me. I usually use the disposable film container. I took a (tiny!) bit of sand from the Normandy Beaches, a rock from the Mt. Vesuvius, soil from the Highlands, a bit of sand from the Green Sand Beach in Hawaii, etc...(BTW, been an Environmental Engineer, I always gauge the environmental impact of what I am taking and wouldn't dream of taking anything with an adverse impact...) <BR>

Denise

My second posting, but yes, like a previous poster, my gloves from Florence. By the way, I live in sub tropical climate and have no great need for gloves, but I have two pair. I'll have to save them for my trips to colder climes. I'm sure Bob the Nav, will have something to say about this absolutely necessary purchase in Florence. <BR> Yes, my ceramics from Tuscany, but having now been home 8 weeks.......my diary full of all the things we did, things we noticed, our costs, clues for the next trip, information for Fodor's questions, just pages and pages - it took me 4 weeks to type it up. This and my 250 photos - always open on the coffee table. Fun fun fun. <BR>Denise <BR>

Tony Hughes

<BR>Well I would have to say that my favourite souvenir was the large chunk of King Cheops' Pyramid (the biggest one) at the Giza plateau in Cairo, Egypt earlier this year. It forms part of the rockery in my garden now. Memorable because of what it took to smuggle it out of the country (bribes/favours etc)

Randy Malpaso

<BR>Tony, Egypt is in Africa not Europe

Maira

Tony: I sure hope you were joking. <BR> <BR> I don't want to detract from the nice thread Wes has going here, but I feel strongly that there is nothing to be proud about Tony's version of a memorable souvenir. Deplorable.

dan

I hope Tony was joking too. If not, the mummy's curse may get him soon. You had better return that piece of pyramid.

'The Cursed' Tony Hughes

What's this, pick on Tony forum? <BR>Deplorable, huh ? <BR>Dan: the alleged curse(there was no such thing) was supposed to have been from the exhumation of King Tutankhamen in the Valley of the Kings, Luxor. The pyramids are in a suburb of Cairo.Thus I am fairly sure I am immune, but thanks for the warning! <BR>The pyramids are falling to bits, they really are. There are blocks lying all over the place, I thought you americans would understand! <BR>Please only be angry with me on the Africa forum and not the European one...although I did manage to procure a piece of a Roman column in Pompeii and a fair sized chunk of the Berlin Wall. Travel magpie, that's me.

Rod Hoots

Our condo is too full to put in one more souvenir, so we try to get something for our grandchildren on each trip. The biggest hits with our grandsons have been sports clothing - soccer shirts and race car jackets from Italy and hockey shirts from Russia. The more lettering, logos, etc., the better. They say they're the envy of their classmates. <BR>

Dick Hardy

I'll add ours to the rest of the good ideas! We try to bring back a pair of champagne glasses from wherever we go. That way, when we have a glass of wine - or even to see them in the cabinet - reminds us of the place we got them. Another tradition started later. I got Mona a charm bracelet for Christmas and have added a charm to remind her of all the places we've gone. Most recently, a whale from Alaska and a paddle-wheeler from our trip down the Mississippi. It's her favorite piece of jewelry! <BR>Dick

Cheryl Z.

<BR>My 2nd post too! Because I've now collected so much "stuff" I prefer to buy for other people, especially some of my employees, friends and family members who will never be as fortunate as I've been to be able to travel so much. This past summer, on our very first trip to Norway, home of my ancestry, I was tickled to be able to buy something specific for my family, especially for my 97 year old grandmother, and some other elderly aunts and uncles. My grandmother's cousin was Knute Pederson Hamsun who was awarded the l929 Nobel Prize for literature, and I purchased several copies of his works and biography for my relatives. I knew I could find them here in the States, but it meant more to be able to get them in Norway. The gifts were worth carrying home (and then shipping to grandma and the gang) because they were so delighted to get them. <BR>I still get thank yous and comments from them! I can't wait to go back.

deepa

We have recently started buying the local music CDs and they end up being great souveniers. Every time we listen to them, we feel as though we are back there. It all started in Prague, where we picked up 2 CDs from the local street jazz groups. Then we were in Italy for chritsmas and we were driving and listening to the local radio channel and really liked some of the local music. So when we reached Milan, we went to a music shop and my husband actully asked me to hum the tunes of the songs we were looking for and the guy made us buy 3 CDs and guess what one of them turned to out right!All in all, it was great fun and every time we listen to that CD we are reminded of driving from Assisi to Orvieto to Florence....

Harriet

Thanks Wes - this IS a nice thread. I too have schlepped back too much "stuff" although I regret few purchases, if any. What I have finally begun collecting (and wish I had started 20 years ago) is lottery tickets. New (always inexpensive) or used (discarded on the ground) they make great bookmarks and sweet reminders.

x

My complimentary MacDonald's (as in Golden Arches) tourist map of Rome! It hangs on the wall of my office. When in Rome, visit MacDonald's for the souvenir map (and the novelty of MacDonald's gelato and antipasto). <BR>

Michelle

My favorite recent souvenirs are my Christmas ornaments. My husband and I buy one on all of our vacations abroad. I have ornaments from countries that my parents and aunts have visited too. <BR>My all time favorite souvenirs are from my very first trip that I took way back in high school. I went to England and I bought an "I Love London" mug which I still use to this day. I also had the foresight to buy a Cambridge sweatshirt in medium instead of small so I could wear it as I grew older. I am happy to say that it is in the laundry right now. <BR> Michelle

Linda

Good idea for a thread, Wes! Wow, there's so much to list. I try to pick up one souvenir from every stop, even if it's not an expensive item. I always keep all ticket stubs, receipts, maps, itineraries, coins/currency, etc.. to intersperse with my photos in an album from each trip. From Istanbul, my favorite item would be about 100 pieces of old paper currency that someone collected and put in an album (could be worthless or worth a fortune) that I picked up at an antique shop on the pedestrian mall in Taksim. From Venice, it would have to be the hand-made mask painted with street scenes on the background. From Florence, it's a velvet and silk scarf bought at the San Lorenzo street market. And finally, from Paris, all the wonderful recipes and a box of La Maison de Chocolat truffles (long gone, but I still keep the box). Most of all, I try to bring back recipes and localy-made decorations to use for "destination" parties for all the friends and family that didn't get to go on the trip. <BR>