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