PurpleNeon

Ooooh what a good question. Thanks for a good reason to reponder a different aspect of our trip.

My favorite things that we bought for ourselves:

1. Your screen name sounds female--if so, my FAVORITE thing I bought myself is what I fondly refer to as my "shiny" shoes. We were there last summer and I noticed so many women wearing flip-flop type shoes (my husband thinks they look like bedroom slippers) that are closed toe and decorated with all sorts of sequins. I saw many women wearing them and saw them in tons of stores. That is right up my alley and I LOOOOVE the pink ones that I bought (I live in Canada and the same type of shoes seem to be "in" this summer, but the ones that are available in Canada are not nearly as nice as my Greek ones!

2. We bought some lithographs from an artist on Santorini that we completely love.

3. Wine/alcohol. We bought a bottle of Mastica (SP?) that we had as an after dinner drink at a restaurant in Paros. We also bought a bottle of Vinsanto (sp?) from Santorini.

4. We, by chance, were there last summer during the height of the Euro Cup insanity. Another favorite are tshirts that we bought at a sports store in Iraklion, Crete that are emblazoned with the Greek flag and Hellas (we wanted to fit in with the Greeks while watching the football games at the outdoor cafes!)

Favorite gifts for others:

1. Couldn't agree more with the worry beads. I bought my boss a string and he loves them.

2. Also agree with the Kitron if you are going to Naxos. We bought a bunch of mini bottles for 2 E (I think) each.

3. Same with Ouzo. A store in Athens sold little bottles I think for about 5 E each; the Ouzo is waaaay better than the stuff that we can buy here (not that it stops us from drinking it now that we're home!).

4. Olive oil soap. Bought this as gifts for many, many female friends. Smells great. I found some in a store on Rhodes that was imprinted with "Made in Greece". Lots of my friends say that they have their bar out in their bathroom, but it is OFF LIMITS and decorative only because they liked it so much!

Thanks again for a different take on a trip down holiday memory lane....

cristine27

I could suggest to buy products of 'mastiha'. It's a product made in Chios island, very healthy.. it's like chewing gum but from the nature and they make lots of products from that. I don't believe you'll find that in the States.
Check their website. (it has a shop in Athens) and i believe it's very original!
http://www.mastihashop.gr/index_en.htm

pattyshearts

Well I started making my shopping list. By the way, is Plaka a town in Athens? What is Pasteli? Where do I find Matt Barrett's Greek pages?

SiobhanP

I bought a chocolate brown leather backpack and it is just beautiful. It softened up after a year and is the and nicest one I ever owned. I am a bit old for the school vinyl kind but it looks great in leather. Also Olive soaps are small nice gifts. In Corfu Town the market has a small jeweller who hand made 5 items only and would make to order for you. I still have a lovely silver ring and earrings that look like nothing else I have seen. Wearing them today! Also great Olive wood bowls.

Eloise

Plaka is an area in Athens below the Acropolis; it has many restaurants and cafes.

Pasteli is a Greek sweet made of sesame seeds and honey.

Matt Barrett: Have you never heard of Google?

SuzieC

I have to confess - I never bought sweaters that smelled quite so offensively in the US than I did in the Islands...
Phew! And the smell seemed to grow worse after they were washed.
What kind of sheep were they??

Hania

There was an art gallery in Kolonaki that sold reasonably priced prints of Greek artist's work. Much better than the standard Calendar/posters in the Plaka. I always come back with a Greek calendar for the next year. If you are into it, there is a Harley Davidson shop in Kolonaki that has HD authentic shirts with Greece printed on them.

Hania

I also like to check out a grocery store and look for Greek products that I can't get in Canada such as Knorr Swiss Avelagoma (sp) sauce.

Dreamer2

Religious Icons, if so inclined, are in abundance and quite lovely.

Gold jewelry, although it's not inexpensive.

Olive products.

USNR

In the Plaka -- down near the far end -- is a shoemaker named Mellisinos (my spelling is not so hot -- mel-uh-SEE-nos) who can craft you a pair of leather sandals while you wait.

Delirious

I bought a beautiful bedspread in the greek colors of white and blue. Have had it for years but can't remember where I bought it. It was in a small village on the way to Delphi and just looking at it transports me back. Also still wear my "blue bead" against the evil eye.

elaine

SuzieC
maybe the sheep were really goats?

ontheverge

Lyn,
The artist in Santorini is Christoforos Assimis. At the time we bought the painting (summer of 2000) he was living and painting on Santorini. He decorated the Cathedral there as well as some other churches. He specializes in landscapes and the light of Santorini. The gallery we bought the painting in is: Art Gallery, Palia Fabrika, Fira. It is right on the Caldera not far from the Hotel Atlantis. He also had paintings at a gallery called Phenomenon in Athens 9 Kolokotroni Street Kifissia. His work is quite lovely.

ontheverge

Matt Barrett's site is www.greektravel.com. It is very thorough and lots of great tips for both the mainland and the islands. We used it to plan our first trip there in 2000 and the whole trip went without a hitch.

loverome

I bought a bunch of crosses - theirs are so beautiful and I don't find ones like that at home. When I wear them, they bring me a big smile and memories of Greece.

Also religious icons - there are many varieties and they can be quite beautiful.

lyn

Thanks much for all the wonderful suggestions.

We will be looking for these artists, etc.

Lyn

Matrexx

Thank you for this thread. I've been wondering what types of things I should keep my eyes open for while in Greece.

I like the idea of the worry beads, protection against the evil eye, and icons.

Regarding icons, is it considered sacreligious to purchase one without believeing or venerating it?

Dreamer2

No, it can be bought and displayed as beautiful art as well. But, it would be considered "sacreligious" to treat it disrespectfully, such as tossing into the trash, or laying face down on the floor.
(Are you American? It should be treated similarly to the way you were taught as a kid to handle the flag.)

Matrexx

Dreamer - I'm not American but Canadian, but I'm familiar with how American's regard their flags. I was just concerned about cultural sensitivity. I"m always abit cautious of things such as wearing the native dress of other cultures etc in case it might offend.

Dreamer2

None of the Greeks I know would be offended if someone shared their culture, whether at church, in dress, or other. In fact, those I know are very gregarious, and usually encourage others to partake in their culture, incuding church festivals and religious activities (although not Holy Communion if not an Orthodox Christian). Especially with your sensitivity, I don't think you'd have to worry about offending.