Souvenirs From Travels

[afbluebelle]

I really dislike touristy gifts given by others.  I don't want or need magnets, shotglasses,  tshirts or mugs.  To me I think it's silly to have a momento of "INSERT CITY NAME HERE" when I, in fact, never visited said city. 

But.. but... It's a magnet of the Corn Palace! Everyone needs one of those!

[Thipu1]

I really dislike touristy gifts given by others.  I don't want or need magnets, shotglasses,  tshirts or mugs.  To me I think it's silly to have a momento of "INSERT CITY NAME HERE" when I, in fact, never visited said city. 

But.. but... It's a magnet of the Corn Palace! Everyone needs one of those!

I would love to have  a magnet from the Corn Palace.  Mr. Thipu and I have so many magnets we have thought abut getting a bigger refrigerator. 

[ladyknight1]

We have metal doors, and magnets decorate them nicely. 

We collect bandanas, and once I get enough of them, I am going to make them into a quilt top. DH buys me a piece of art every trip, this one was a ceramic dish that has crackle glass in the middle and reflects light beautifully.  DS (14) always has to get some things for his friends. Our last trip to Colorado and New Mexico, we bought DH's parents each a beautiful mug which they use.

[gramma dishes]

I don't buy souvenirs personally.  We take lots and lots of pictures and those are our souvenirs.

But we once went on a trip with a large group of people and there was a married couple on the trip who bought a Christmas tree ornament (or a small object that could be used as one) to remember each trip.  I thought that was kind of a neat idea!

[Moralia]

When friends travel, I will sometimes send along a couple of labelled glass vials for them to put pebbles or sand to bring back. I pre-print tacky labels with the country of origin so they look like typical souvenirs and not anything suspect.    Eventually, I plan to build a special rack for the vials little brass plaques, it will hang next to a world map.

[Library Dragon]

I usually only get a few nice things for myself/DH.  A silk scarf from Lyon, a nice cross from Bethlehem, etc.  When we go to Italy I look for non-perishable food stuffs that are hard to find in the US.

I do bring back things for work and friends. When I had a stop in Turkey I had joking requests for rugs.  I picked up a variation on these Turkish rugs with evil eye http://www.cafeanatolia.com/Turkish_Carpet_Wall_Hanging_with_Evil_Eye_Amulet_p/evileyehomedecor10.htm. Mine were only $2. 

When I go to Vegas it may be candy casino chips.  I try and keep it small and fun. 

DS1 lives and breathes baseball, so a tshirt from the local team is appreciated. DS2 & DIL will usually get an edible treat.  The exception was last year's library convention when the guys from DC comics personalized autographed comics and created original artwork when I mentioned DS2 is in the Army. I earned mega mom points.

[Thipu1]

When I was a child, my mother was friendly with two sisters.  They lived together and traveled quite a bit. 

Every place they visited they tried to find a four inch square ceramic tile with a local scene.    Eventually, they had enough to tile a wall in their breakfast nook. 

It made quite a lovely display. 

[readingchick]

When my SO and I go to northern Michigan (Mackinaw City, Mackinac Island and St. Ignace), he and I will get fudge and T-shirts for my parents.

[mbbored]

I usually bring back consumables or unique home decorations (hand embroidered pillow cases from India, Morocco, China, paintings from street stands, etc) for myself. I pick up some time of consumable for anybody who did favors for me when I was gone and my lab mates. If I'm going somewhere interesting, I send postcards to my niece and nephew and buy a Christmas ornament or nativity scene for my mother.

[Awestruck Shmuck]

My dad has always travelled a lot for work, and ever since I was a preteen, he would ask me to research and pick one local shop i'd like him to visit in his travels.

One of his best efforts was when I was a teen, he visited LA, and I'd read about 'Kitson' in some magazine. He went there and was pounced on by a sales assistant - and came back with some really cool things from that trip!

When I travel, I prefer to send postcards or take photos of things my family/friends would find funny/interesting. If I can find birthday/christmas presents that I can't get anywhere near home, then I'll pick up a few.

Oh, but I still have a dress my dad bought me when I was 12 - he stayed with a fellow academic in Chicago and there was a teenaged daughter in the house. She took him shopping and found some awesome clothes for my brother and I!

[cicero]

When I was a child, my mother was friendly with two sisters.  They lived together and traveled quite a bit. 

Every place they visited they tried to find a four inch square ceramic tile with a local scene.    Eventually, they had enough to tile a wall in their breakfast nook. 

It made quite a lovely display.

I think i'm going to steal this idea!

[heartmug]

When I was a child, my mother was friendly with two sisters.  They lived together and traveled quite a bit. 

Every place they visited they tried to find a four inch square ceramic tile with a local scene.    Eventually, they had enough to tile a wall in their breakfast nook. 

It made quite a lovely display.

I think i'm going to steal this idea!

That is a great idea!  Or have them framed together.

[Cami]

When I was a child, my mother was friendly with two sisters.  They lived together and traveled quite a bit. 

Every place they visited they tried to find a four inch square ceramic tile with a local scene.    Eventually, they had enough to tile a wall in their breakfast nook. 

It made quite a lovely display.

What a great idea!

[dawbs]

When I was a kid, and POGs were a (brief!) fad, we got those--mostly because it was a nice, cheap memento.  Although mine are pretty beat up because I actually played with them  .

I'll try to get something we actually need, with a twist.  So...we need a wine stopper?  great, we can get one w/ a piece of 'local' (to where we are) wood on it made by a local artisan.

other than that, I don't tend to buy for anyone except my kid.

[Thipu1]

When I was a child, my mother was friendly with two sisters.  They lived together and traveled quite a bit. 

Every place they visited they tried to find a four inch square ceramic tile with a local scene.    Eventually, they had enough to tile a wall in their breakfast nook. 

It made quite a lovely display.

What a great idea!

When we visited them, it was great fun to learn about the places and hear stories of their travels.