THE Souvenir You Wish You Had Bought But Didn't
May 15th, 2008, 03:07 PM
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THE Souvenir You Wish You Had Bought But Didn't
I have spent hours on the web trying to find a source for something I REALLY wish I had bought in Arcos de la Frontera Spain,a couple of months ago when I had the chance - an azulejo/ceramic tile with an artist painting a tree and the words "Vive aqui un pintor" It was small and inexpensive but my hubby talked me out of it - saying it would probably break before our return home. Since we still had Madrid to visit, I secretly thought I could purchase it there but, alas, I never saw another one on our trip. Any bits and bobs you wish you had purchased but didn't and are now pining away like I am? It would have been wonderful on the door of my new studio.sigh
May 15th, 2008, 03:11 PM
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I was in a village in south of France at an artist's studio and there was a small bronze sculpture of a mom with three children. Just as soon as I got too far away to turn back, I knew I would regret not buying that piece.
May 15th, 2008, 03:19 PM
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A miniature bronze sculpture of a turtle a couple hundred years old that I saw at the Portobello Rd. antique market. All because they wanted 225 GBP. I still wish I had tried harder to drive a bargain.
thereyet
thereyet
May 15th, 2008, 03:49 PM
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3 or 4 matched Murano glass sconces (mid-century contemporary, by Seguso or Venini, I think) in Rome flea market (not Porta Portese). Thought they'd be a pain to bring home, but later wished I had put them in my luggage and left behind a few shirts if necessary!
True, they were not cheap - but still were about 1/4 of the going rate for such things here.
True, they were not cheap - but still were about 1/4 of the going rate for such things here.
May 15th, 2008, 03:55 PM
#6
Also ceramic tile for me -- I bought two small lovely hand painted ones in Siena, and wish I had bought more, and one small red painted tile in Venice at a shop near La Zucca restaurant, and again wish I had two more to hang in a vertical arrangement in my family room.
OTOH, hard to pack heavy breakables like tile early in the trip.
OTOH, hard to pack heavy breakables like tile early in the trip.
May 15th, 2008, 06:01 PM
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In Pompeii, I really wanted to buy a tile with the famous mosaic reperesentation of a dog and the warning "Cave Canem" (Beware the dog). I wanted it as a thank you gift for my dog-loving neighbors who always watch my house while I'm gone.
Unfortunately, I was born without the shopping gene and apparently it was too big of a deal for me to take five minutes to buy it at a roadside stand. I'm still mad at myself for not buying the thing.
Unfortunately, I was born without the shopping gene and apparently it was too big of a deal for me to take five minutes to buy it at a roadside stand. I'm still mad at myself for not buying the thing.
May 15th, 2008, 06:11 PM
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We try to buy prints or other artwork from all the place we go to. In Salzburg, we found a wonderful little art gallery and there were 2 pieces we were trying to decide about. I liked one, DH liked the other, and the kids were split as well. They were both quite nice and either one would have been fine. We decided to hold off a day and then go back and decide. Unfortunately, we didn't realize that the shop owner was going to be closing the shop for several days - and we had to leave before he reopened.
It took us a few trips - but we finally realized that the best philosophy was "If you see it and you like it....BUY IT!"
It took us a few trips - but we finally realized that the best philosophy was "If you see it and you like it....BUY IT!"
May 15th, 2008, 06:14 PM
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We stopped at a roadside gas station near Pizza and my husband held up a really funky leaning tower night light...I laughed and he didn't buy it and he has talked about it often. It was just weird enough to be cool.
May 15th, 2008, 06:39 PM
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Deco oyster plates and charger at the Paris flea market. I have never seen anything like them. There were 14 plates and my SO talked the dealer into selling us two. We should have bought them all. If we didn't want all of them they would have paid for a trip or two to Paris.
May 15th, 2008, 06:41 PM
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I wish I had bought a German Christmas pyramid in Garmisch Partenkirchen (the spinning candle thingie). I don't know why I didn't.
I wish we had driven into Mexico more often to shop for cermaics and textiles when we lived in Arizona. I'm not talking about border towns, but towns famous for their arts and crafts, like Puebla and Oaxaca.
I wish we had driven into Mexico more often to shop for cermaics and textiles when we lived in Arizona. I'm not talking about border towns, but towns famous for their arts and crafts, like Puebla and Oaxaca.
May 15th, 2008, 07:26 PM
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It was only a day trip, but there was a ring at an antique show in San Francisco...
It was an antique spinner ring but it was different than the ones you see now. There was a band, and attached to a rise in the band was a tube. On one end was a gemstone (emerald if I remember correctly) and the tube spun and balanced on the rise. I decided I'd rather buy 3 different rings than that one ring. I've never forgiven myself.
It was an antique spinner ring but it was different than the ones you see now. There was a band, and attached to a rise in the band was a tube. On one end was a gemstone (emerald if I remember correctly) and the tube spun and balanced on the rise. I decided I'd rather buy 3 different rings than that one ring. I've never forgiven myself.
May 15th, 2008, 07:27 PM
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Scarlett- I can so identify with that. My only regrets in not buying are real estate. As far as souvenirs go, no regrets. I tend to overbuy to avoid that regret because the regret is so much worse than the cost of the purchase, usually. I do regret all the wonderful purchases I've lost....the oval turquoise ring from Greece, the gorgeous garnet cocktail ring from Toronto, the gorgeous woven metal rose hair pin from Buenos Aires, the black jacket from Rome that became my all purpose travel garment multitasking as airplane pillow, etc.
May 15th, 2008, 07:36 PM
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Real estate for me, too. Begged and begged for a certain property but dh said no. Worth 4 times today. Now he tells me he'll listen next time.
I have too much stuff to worry about the trinkets. But there is always something wonderful I fret over to bring home. Until the next trip...
I have too much stuff to worry about the trinkets. But there is always something wonderful I fret over to bring home. Until the next trip...
May 15th, 2008, 07:41 PM
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Grcxx3, I love bringing back prints and drawings too - My larger bag has always been a hard-sided one, and if I have that along packing works on paper is a snap.
In Taxco many years ago I bought a friend a beautiful decanter. Don't regret giving it to him, but I wonder why I didn't get myself one!
In Taxco many years ago I bought a friend a beautiful decanter. Don't regret giving it to him, but I wonder why I didn't get myself one!
