What's your favorite souvenir?
I attended a lovely dinner party over the weekend with some folks who I haven't seen since I'd been back from my trip to China. As you've no doubt experienced after vacay, several questions were asked about where I'd gone, what I did, what I saw, and where I posted my photos (here, in case you were wondering). My favorite question, however, was, "What did you buy?"
The answer is that I didn't buy much this time--the trip was expensive enough, and I didn't want to lug too many things around with me for two weeks. But I did score a few choice items closer to the end, though: an small antique teapot; a great shoulder bag; books from the Shanghai Museum; tea from the Yunnan province that's so very real that I have to wash the leaves twice before brewing it (hard core!).
When I travel, I usually like to buy two things: art and local foods that are hard for me to find back home. Above are some of my finds. Note that many of the containers (the olive oil, the wine, the box of tea) are empty--I just can't seem to throw them away (and I am really good at throwing things away, so this is a rare thing indeed). Here's the rundown:
- Honey and herbs from a trip to Paris
- The bag from China
- The bad-ass tea from China
- Olive oil from Greece (read about this stuff here--it's AMAZING)
- Shells and stones from various beaches (Anguilla, North Carolina, Nice, Málaga, Cabo)
- Pinot Noir from New Zealand
- "Two Years in the Forbidden City" by Princess Der Ling (I'm obsessed with China's "Dragon Lady")
- A tea strainer from Shanghai that I've turned into a tea-light holder
- Tea from Ladurée in Paris
Er, so, really, just lots of tea.
What about you? What souvenir do you always buy when you're on vacation?
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Reader Comments (6)
I like to buy a nice piece of jewelry--something that includes a stone or something that is from the country that I am visiting. I like the idea of buying tea. Love your blog, Amy!
Love this post! I used to buy those pens with the little floaty, moveable landmarks...I had one from Niagara Falls with a little Maid of the Mist that would slide up and down when you turned the pen over. Since I am not so great at throwing things away, I still have several of them! Now I like to buy candy, coffee, and jewelry.
I love this post. Great pictures! I really like to buy Christmas ornaments from the places I visit that speak of the location. Sometimes quite literally with the name drawn on there, but sometimes just a reference. It makes decorating the tree so much more fun and special, cause they all have a story behind them.
I also like to buy a Christmas ornament when I am traveling - my favorite being a beautiful Austrian ornament made of star anise, ribbons, and a tiny violin that we found in Salzburg.
Bob and I also like to grab the local candy bar at the gas station in foreign countries. I like to know what their version of the Snickers bar is. Maybe that is not much of a souvenir though since we eat them on the spot and never have the willpower to bring them home with us!
Like many others, we also collect Christmas ornaments from the various locales where we've vacationed. Also, we try to find a piece of art or a trinket that is special to the area so we can remember our travels while at home. Oh vacation...I yearn for you!
Thanks, peeps! Lauren, Kendall, and Anna, you all totally reminded me--I buy Christmas ornaments too. Can't believe I didn't mention that! I love that tradition--great way to look back on the trips of times past.