What do you recommend for shopping in Greece?
 

Greetings,

Can you offer some suggestions of items you found interesting to bring home from Greece? Did you find the jewelry to be unusual and or especially interesting? How about dishes--I always love to collect a few dinner plates from our travels. Has anyone been to the islands of Skopelos or Crete and is there anything special to be on the lookout for there? I am interested in an anything characteristically Greek, but well-made and attractive. Would love your thoughts.

Many thanks.
Robyn France

There was lots of beautiful glass.

We bought pillows (just the cases, not the pillow forms) from a rug shop. They are really nice, and were easy to bring home.

There are ceramics made on the island of Rhodes; they should be available at the larger souvenir shops in Athens.

Jewelry imitating ancient Greek jewelry is sold at the National Archeological Museum and probably other museums.

Jewelry is also a major industry on the island of Santorini, and there are many jewelry shops in Athens.

There was an internationally renowned jeweler in Athens called Lalaounis. I gather he died in 2000 or 2001, because now there is an Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum, which has a shop:

http://www.lalaounis-jewelrymuseum.g...dex.asp?link=1

We bought worry beads, which are a little bit of fun and decorative as well. They can be very inexpensive or extremely elaborate. Whenever my husband starts to stress out I pop them on the bedside table before he wakes up and it always gives him a laugh when he sees them there. I found the style of jewellery to be very different with modern settings. At the other extreme, antique coins make gorgeous pendants and are a terrific memento.

Thank you so much for the tips--I was familiar with Lalalounis--that stuff is gorgeous but quite expensive, at least in NY. Will check out the archaeological museum jewelry--that sounds promising.

Someone had mention blue and white dinner plates--any ideas there?

Thanks again.

Take care,
Robyn France