Other than the typical tourist swag, do you bring back any trinkets or oddities from your travels? Something that means only something to you?
I try to find things that are different and maybe culturally significant, all the while being environmentally responsible. After reading Dancing Dave's
PERU...to play the flute under the condor's beak
I spotted a photo of his that made me smile
as it reminded me of my own awkward attempt to bring back to Canada two fragile Pukara Bulls in my backpack. They are now proudly displayed bookends (and conversation starters), and constant reminders of my amazing trip to Peru.
Reply to this I like to bring back fridge magnet, something very special to the area like a dish or bowl, or whatever is the local hand made item and a charm for my travel charm bracelet.
Reply to this In response to: Msg #194190
Hi Cabochik,
I also bring fridge magnets.
Now, please do not laugh, I also bring some soil or stone chips from places when practical. When I see that piece of soil or stone at a later date, I feel so close to the place. Nostalgia! Yes, I know what you all are thinking,- I must be crazy!
Reply to this Hi,
'm just treading in the ocean of travelogues, but what i normally do is to tell the small stories behind those trips and to bring some candid moments captured by making it still with a cam. Pretty much every other stuff anyone can find from Googling, but when some one add some style or uniqueness into it, it becomes special.
Thanks!
Reply to this Linens take up little space and don't weigh much e.g. pillow cases, bread basket liners etc. embroidered in a distinctive local style. I brought a snail dish with indents and snail tongs home from Paris. Business cards and logoed matchbooks make fun displays once we're home and are free and easy to transport.
Reply to this Space in my backpack was always limited, so I rarely purchased anything. One time in Mexico I just had to have something, so I bought it and gleefully went back to my little cabin. It was there that it dawned on me why I typically don't buy things. I had a 40 pound stone slab that was a nicely made reproduction of Lord Pakal's sarcophagus lid. Not only did it double the weight of my backpack, but I struggled to find someone willing to ship it home. I carried it for several more weeks through the Yucatan, being turned down by every small-town shipping company, before I finally found a DHL that was willing to ship it - They made me go to the local customs agent to get his certification that it was a reproduction and not a looted antiquity, so it ended up being a big hassle. Now that I am not traveling as much that carving brings me a lot of joy, even with its two broken corners (courtesy of DHL).
Reply to this I do seem to have quite a collection of fridge magnets so I guess I must collect these! But when I reflected on what else I have bought I have some nice momentos of places visited - leather gloves and a bag from Rome, olive wood salad servers from Tuscany, paintings, glasses cases and Linen from Venice, a leather bound diary from Florence, lace bookmarks from Brittany, a pashmina from Budapest. I also collect postcards from art galleries which are easy to carry and store. I did get a bit carried away buying a beautiful Murano glass vase, and a few little glass jugs to add to collection which all survived a long trip back to Australia. I also bought Roman coins and a chess set for my son in Rome. My carry on bag was bursting!!
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