What gifts should we take from the U.S. to our friend in Spain
Aug 26th, 2006, 12:29 PM
#1
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What gifts should we take from the U.S. to our friend in Spain
We are truly stumped as to what to bring along as gifts for our kind friend. (I think all this trip-planning has so cluttered our brains that clear-mindedness no longer exists).
So far, we've bought him (in his early 40's) a white silk guayabera and are considering a silver dollar encased in a silver key ring. Any suggestions?
We'd also like to bring along something for his girlfriend and his two children (a boy, age 6, a girl, age 12). Jelly Belly candies? Ghirardelli chocolates? Games? Music CDs?
We know what to buy while in Spain to bring home, thanks to a previous thread. I've compiled a very long list for a not-so-big suitcase.
So far, we've bought him (in his early 40's) a white silk guayabera and are considering a silver dollar encased in a silver key ring. Any suggestions?
We'd also like to bring along something for his girlfriend and his two children (a boy, age 6, a girl, age 12). Jelly Belly candies? Ghirardelli chocolates? Games? Music CDs?
We know what to buy while in Spain to bring home, thanks to a previous thread. I've compiled a very long list for a not-so-big suitcase.
Aug 26th, 2006, 05:29 PM
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You don;t say where you're from but I always try to bring something local - a coffee table book - or more than one - about the area. Or about some special interest of his, history of the area or architecture or ? Or some local product you may have trouble getting - like real maple syrup if from New England.
Aug 26th, 2006, 05:48 PM
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Local books sound like a great idea.
We live in Miami and that's why we're taking him the guayabera. Any other thoughts? I don't know what the family interests are, so the gifts cannot be on a very personal level.
We live in Miami and that's why we're taking him the guayabera. Any other thoughts? I don't know what the family interests are, so the gifts cannot be on a very personal level.
Aug 27th, 2006, 10:31 AM
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If you are bringing Key Lime, I'd bring some cook books or info on how to use it. I'm saying that, since I'd have no idea what to do with it if it were given to me...
Kids might like sweat shirts with Florida logo's.....esp. the 12 yr old. Candy and chocolate can melt. I'd find out what 6 yr old boys like in Florida and bring one of those to the little boy in Spain.
Kids might like sweat shirts with Florida logo's.....esp. the 12 yr old. Candy and chocolate can melt. I'd find out what 6 yr old boys like in Florida and bring one of those to the little boy in Spain.
Aug 27th, 2006, 10:36 AM
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Maple syrup here ? Where ? 
Local books with photos looks a good idea to me too. Anything of Disney for the kids (yes , I know Disney is not in Miami but it's American, isn't it ? ), a spanglish dictionary in case they want to visit you there 
, don't worry , anything will do , the important thing is not the gift, but your visit
Local books with photos looks a good idea to me too. Anything of Disney for the kids (yes , I know Disney is not in Miami but it's American, isn't it ? ), a spanglish dictionary in case they want to visit you there , don't worry , anything will do , the important thing is not the gift, but your visit
Aug 27th, 2006, 11:49 AM
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Sweatshirts, t-shirts and disney stuff, what great ideas! Am going to start a list of things in order to make a final decision. There are key lime cookies, breads and spreads here. Wish I could take a delicious key lime pie!
I bought a tin of guava paste to take, but am not sure if it is available in Spain. Laclaire, is it availabe? Also, can you come up with some things that you miss from home or think folks would want. (am only guessing you're from the states).
I bought a tin of guava paste to take, but am not sure if it is available in Spain. Laclaire, is it availabe? Also, can you come up with some things that you miss from home or think folks would want. (am only guessing you're from the states).
Aug 27th, 2006, 02:22 PM
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The only things I miss that I can't find aren't typically American - curry paste for example.
I cook for my Spanish friends and have taken note of a few things --
a) they don't do spicy food (yes, I'm sure some do but the sheer majority don't)! I made a seven layer dip once and one slice of jalopeno nearly killed all of them
b) They all love my KC Masterpiece BBQ sauce -- haven't ever seen that here
c) They like my brownies (shh - made with American mix) - you can get mix here but it's not as good as in the U.S. if you get the super chewy chunky full of chocolate bits kind. The brownies I make from the Trader Joes mix is a big hit. While you find brownies on many menus these days I like to show them that they haven't tasted the real thing when they say that they are just OK in the restaurant
I would nix the sweatshirt idea - while you'll see kids wearing tee-shirts, I've never seen anyone wear a sweatshirt here outside of the house. (Besides the American tourists)
I cook for my Spanish friends and have taken note of a few things --
a) they don't do spicy food (yes, I'm sure some do but the sheer majority don't)! I made a seven layer dip once and one slice of jalopeno nearly killed all of them
b) They all love my KC Masterpiece BBQ sauce -- haven't ever seen that here
c) They like my brownies (shh - made with American mix) - you can get mix here but it's not as good as in the U.S. if you get the super chewy chunky full of chocolate bits kind. The brownies I make from the Trader Joes mix is a big hit. While you find brownies on many menus these days I like to show them that they haven't tasted the real thing when they say that they are just OK in the restaurant
I would nix the sweatshirt idea - while you'll see kids wearing tee-shirts, I've never seen anyone wear a sweatshirt here outside of the house. (Besides the American tourists)
Aug 27th, 2006, 02:55 PM
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my friends LOVE the kitchen towel sets i bring.
-brownie mix fun idea for kids.
-spain has plenty of gummie bears/choclates, etc and gobs of candies, but those chocolate kisses are always a hit.
-a nice xmas ornament for house or table could be a nice reminder of you during the upcoming holidays.
-books are always nice as mentioned
-money clips are hard to find here
-although we have cd's here.. how about some nat king cole or typical american music?
- cute rubber stamps/ink for kids are always fun no matter what country they are from.
most spaniards are not into south american /mexican foods. but we do have plenty of them here at supermarkets now anyway because of the increased number of immigrants.
as mentioned, most spaniards do not know how to implement unusual foods you might take, so unless you are planning to prepare it for them, not going to get used probably.
-brownie mix fun idea for kids.
-spain has plenty of gummie bears/choclates, etc and gobs of candies, but those chocolate kisses are always a hit.
-a nice xmas ornament for house or table could be a nice reminder of you during the upcoming holidays.
-books are always nice as mentioned
-money clips are hard to find here
-although we have cd's here.. how about some nat king cole or typical american music?
- cute rubber stamps/ink for kids are always fun no matter what country they are from.
most spaniards are not into south american /mexican foods. but we do have plenty of them here at supermarkets now anyway because of the increased number of immigrants.
as mentioned, most spaniards do not know how to implement unusual foods you might take, so unless you are planning to prepare it for them, not going to get used probably.
Aug 27th, 2006, 03:53 PM
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I had this question too -- Maribel suggested that I bring something small with a Bulls logo (we're from Chicago) for two young boys as she said the NBA was quite popular and that they all knew of Michael Jordan, etc. She suggested this over Cubs or Sox baseball caps (my initial idea) since American baseball isn't widely followed there.
Unfortunately, I ran out of time to grab these things locally and we ended up looking for something at O'Hare airport. Wouldn't you know it -- we were in the only terminal that had sports paraphenelia for every team ever connected to Chicago EXCEPT for the Bulls. It was comically frustrating --the ONLY thing we could find with a Bulls logo was a hooded sweatshirt (for kids) for $80 and hence two of them would have cost more than twice the cost of the b&b we were staying at overnight (Ikexte in Hondarribia -- 45 E).
We saw on a map that another terminal had an entire store devoted to the Chicago Bulls but we had to board within 25 minutes and didn't know if we could make the sprint to the other terminal and back. We ended up not getting anything at all and we felt really terrible about it. Fatima and Patxi were so nice and it would have been wonderful to bring their boys a small gift.
Moral of the story -- do your shopping early so that good intentions materialize into something more than guilt and self-loathing.
Oh, and that the NBA sounds popular, at least the high profile teams and players.
Unfortunately, I ran out of time to grab these things locally and we ended up looking for something at O'Hare airport. Wouldn't you know it -- we were in the only terminal that had sports paraphenelia for every team ever connected to Chicago EXCEPT for the Bulls. It was comically frustrating --the ONLY thing we could find with a Bulls logo was a hooded sweatshirt (for kids) for $80 and hence two of them would have cost more than twice the cost of the b&b we were staying at overnight (Ikexte in Hondarribia -- 45 E).
We saw on a map that another terminal had an entire store devoted to the Chicago Bulls but we had to board within 25 minutes and didn't know if we could make the sprint to the other terminal and back. We ended up not getting anything at all and we felt really terrible about it. Fatima and Patxi were so nice and it would have been wonderful to bring their boys a small gift.
Moral of the story -- do your shopping early so that good intentions materialize into something more than guilt and self-loathing.
Oh, and that the NBA sounds popular, at least the high profile teams and players.
Aug 27th, 2006, 06:09 PM
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We live in Miami too, and we've had a million visitors from Spain come over here. This is what they've liked: Ralph Lauren polo shirts (they love Marshalls), CDs of Cuban music, hershey's kisses, Cuban sandwiches (a bit difficult to maintain the freshness in transit). They do love the guava paste, but let me tell you, last time they took it, it shows up weird in the X-rays (supposedly it looks like plastic explosives), and security went through all the luggage. Nice beach bags are also popular. For the 6-year old, how about some puzzles with popular cartoon characters. Local cookbooks (easy to find in Spanish here).
Sep 13th, 2006, 06:52 AM
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Thanks to all of you for your great advice. We are leaving for Spain in a few days bearings gifts:
For our friend - Silk Guayabera, Silver money clip with silver dollar inserted, guayaba in a tin (at the risk of taking it on the plane), Kentucky burbon (just because it's something fun).
12-year-old daughter- very cute disney jean purse with disney characters imprinted on it, silver necklaces.
6-year-old son-two way radio and a set of disney character toy cars.
Mickey Mouse lollipops and Hershey Kisses (will carry the kisses in my handbag to ensure they stay fresh)
What is terrific with the Disney Store is the packaging, very colorful with all of the characters.
I think that's it. If I'm missing out on any great things to take from the U.S., please let me know as we still have time.
Fishee-thanks for the advise... I was sort of dragging my feet on buying the gifts. Initially I asked my daughters to bring t-shirts from the university they attend, but never pushed the issue.
For our friend - Silk Guayabera, Silver money clip with silver dollar inserted, guayaba in a tin (at the risk of taking it on the plane), Kentucky burbon (just because it's something fun).
12-year-old daughter- very cute disney jean purse with disney characters imprinted on it, silver necklaces.
6-year-old son-two way radio and a set of disney character toy cars.
Mickey Mouse lollipops and Hershey Kisses (will carry the kisses in my handbag to ensure they stay fresh)
What is terrific with the Disney Store is the packaging, very colorful with all of the characters.
I think that's it. If I'm missing out on any great things to take from the U.S., please let me know as we still have time.
Fishee-thanks for the advise... I was sort of dragging my feet on buying the gifts. Initially I asked my daughters to bring t-shirts from the university they attend, but never pushed the issue.
Sep 14th, 2006, 06:21 PM
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Laclaire: Aunt Jemima and Log Cabin are not maple syrup! Just nasty corn syrup with maple flavoring! I do bring maple syrup to friends in Italy, where it's impossible to find. Presume the same in Spain?
Just nasty corn syrup with maple flavoring! I do bring maple syrup to friends in Italy, where it's impossible to find. Presume the same in Spain?
Sep 14th, 2006, 08:18 PM
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I was going to suggest Hershey Bars, but you've already planned the kisses. Some cool lipgloss or hair accessories might be good for the preteen. How about a bottle of good wine from the states to compare...but not with the six year old. He's got me stumped. Have a wonderful trip. You might throw in some Sugar Daddys!
Sep 14th, 2006, 08:31 PM
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laclaire
<i>Kenderina- I am in Alicante right now and we have <b>Log Cabin and Aunt Jemima</b> thanks to HiperCor at El Corte Inglés.</i> LOL
First, you haven't found any maple syrup-Log Cabin and Aunt Jemima are sweet liquids with a maple chemical taste. I would eat pancakes with just a bit of butter and spinkle with a bit of sugar.
Then, take a bit of time and find a Carrefour store. You can find "Real" maple syrup. Normally you can see a maple leaf and/or another note that it comes from Canada or Vermont.
Carrefour has a store in Figueras has which sells real maple syrup. Fun also is true maple syrup is sold in the stores in Pertus-the local French/Spanish stores.
Blackduff
<i>Kenderina- I am in Alicante right now and we have <b>Log Cabin and Aunt Jemima</b> thanks to HiperCor at El Corte Inglés.</i> LOL
First, you haven't found any maple syrup-Log Cabin and Aunt Jemima are sweet liquids with a maple chemical taste. I would eat pancakes with just a bit of butter and spinkle with a bit of sugar.
Then, take a bit of time and find a Carrefour store. You can find "Real" maple syrup. Normally you can see a maple leaf and/or another note that it comes from Canada or Vermont.
Carrefour has a store in Figueras has which sells real maple syrup. Fun also is true maple syrup is sold in the stores in Pertus-the local French/Spanish stores.
Blackduff
