by Anne
When traveling, I've learned that there are some who love it when I bring back souvenirs and some who would rather not bother with filling their room up with more "junk." Keeping in mind the preferences of my loved ones back home helps me narrow down my search for souvenirs.
I have a friend that does not like to get any souvenirs at all. She feels that souvenirs just add more clutter to her room, but not only that... she has to feel the guilt of throwing it away and hurting your feelings if you bring something back for her.
So I've learned not to get this friend any souvenirs. She especially tells people, "Do NOT bring me home any sand in a bottle. There's nothing I can do with sand in a bottle." You know those little souvenir bottles you can buy at a beachy or tropical area with their sand in it? Yeah, she hates those.
Then I have a cousin who loves receiving souvenirs of all kinds. He uses them all, lighters, ash trays, framed pictures, mini statues, you name it. You can see them shown off all over his apartment. As long as the souvenir shows where it's from, he's happy. He's easy to shop for.
And there's another friend of mine who loves to collect shot glasses so he's by far the easiest to shop for if the place I'm visiting has any shot glasses to buy. And so far, every city and country has them.
I love to get souvenirs, myself, but I have to admit I do end up misplacing them sooner or later.
Do you like to buy and receive souvenirs? What were the best and worst souvenirs anyone has brought home for you?
Comments (31)
I only buy something if it can be of use to it's recipient. I love getting perfume or hankies, or clothing, but no ashtrays or knickknack LOL. I always make sure it was made in that specific country and not just imported from China - which is often the case surprisingly! In Italy I found great souveneirs like wine bottle cork caps - beautiful - and Italian silk ties - stuff like that. I enjoy taking pics though in a souvenier shop - just for my own eye enjoyment - no clutter! haha
I do buy souvenirs for myself, postcards, everwhere I go I buy them.
Other family members, know I collect postcards and try to bring me back a few.
We dont usually bring back gifts for other family members, when me and parents went to America and Canada sister could not come so we both her back some earrings and a few other bits
T-Shirts, I LOVE them. But as far as anything else, not so much unless it is something specific for that region, something you CAN NOT get where you are from.
Other people, I will only get them something if i know it is something they like, or collect.
I buy food souvenirs anywhere I go, because frankly, everyone eats. No feelings are hurt. : ) But sometimes I'm faced with the problem that you can buy that kind of food back at home. Oh well.
We've gotten into the habit of buying shot glasses during most trips. When you do buy for others, you really do have to know who to buy for and who not to buy for - otherwise it's just a waste of money. I personally love little knickknacks that you can only get there, or that truly represent where you went, like koa wood turtles in Hawaii or miniature cable cars in San Francisco.
I don't really want souvenirs of places I haven't been to.
I usually only like souvenirs if they're useful, like a cool t-shirt or whatnot. Especially if a friend gets it for me, anything more than a postcard is too much. I'd rather have some fun photos to look through when you get back than a miniature version of the towns most famous statue, or a snowglobe.
@My_blog_for_2009@xanga -
I like to get postcard too. I'll usually mail them from that country. And I also ask my friend to mail me postcard when they are traveling too.
As for souvenirs, yup, and depends what found it interesting, often something cultural. Perhaps some traditional small crafts, Or if they have some very cute interesting design keychain etc, then I will get them too.
e.g. Mauritius key chain, it's a resin mold guitar with tiny sea shells inside, so that was neat.
But probably not those dishes with prints on them, they are a bit ordinary and not as specials.
I like souvenirs, but only if they're useful [Keychains are fine. haha]. I too, dislike clutter.
ugh, keychains. -_-
however, i love bags that say the place it's from. i bought some beautiful woven bags that read "thailand" in rainbow letters. i also have a tote from south africa - it's adorable! :)
pretty clothes! necklaces but if i really can't afford it, a unique looking stuffed animal that'll remind me of the country.
xFor me, I've found that writing in a journal and taking lots of picture is the best type of souvenir. Souvenirs are meant to be memories from fun times, what could hold better memories than your own thoughts and what you saw with your own eyes?
I'm a t-shirt collector... so everyone gets me a t-shirt from wherever they happen to visit :)
I would only get a souvenir if I really wanted to go somewhere far away. Shopping is always a given on vacations, but you should buy something worth your while... instead of something completely random you'll never use, like a keychain.
Well. There's a BIG difference between a dumb collection of shells (they're shells--whoopdedoo, just what I wanted) and a t-shirt that can actually be put to use.
I don't like anything that will sit and rot, and I don't buy anyone anything or the sort, in return.
I love souvenirs of all sorts--yes, even those bottles of sand. And keychains. Ah, clutter.<3
(I am a complete and total pack rat.)
Aside from postcards, the only souvenir I remember buying for anyone but myself was a Christmas ornament for the family tree. I like souvenirs from other people OK, but usually end up misplacing the knick-knacks. My brother bought me a Swiss knife while in Australia. I've had that knife a long time now. And my dad bought me a mini-sombrero that I put on a stuffed animal. Some friends visted Alaska and bought me a jacket that I use regularly as well as a glass bottle full of water and gold flakes -- there's a moose on the stopper. They sent bookmarks too, but I can't find them. They're probably stuck in a book somewhere. I don't recall getting any bad souvenirs from anyone.
I don't mind giving or receiving any gift EXCEPT PHOTO FRAMES.
The best souvenir was when one of my fellow dancers went to Turkey and brought me back a coin belt. The worst, although I appreciated the thought, was when my brother brought me back an actual aligator foot. Apparently he though that because I liked "weird" things, I would like that. Honestly it creeped me out but I do have it displayed in my room where he can see it whenever he comes over. Maybe I will make something out of it. Maybe...
I am pretty partial to anything I can use or that has some sort of cultural value behind it. Thing like totems, coinbelts, statues and tribal jewelry are cool. Things like animal parts, not so much
I don't like other people getting them for me, but when I travel, I make a point to get several very special items.
I only buy souvenirs that are unique, and not stamped with "X Location" and cheesy things like that. Handmade items from the area or stuff that is really different is my kind of "souvenir".
I like it if it's something I can use, like jewelry or soap. The best I ever got was a huge thing of saffron from when a friend was in Kyrgyzstan. The worst was probably the moose poop my cousin sent from Alaska.
I love buying for people, but I try to stick to foods with funny packaging or engrish misspellings or if it's something the region is famous for like really good Italian olive oil.
I love to receive them! When I buy gifts for people, they tend not to do much with them or just end up on the floor or losing it...great huh?
I stopped buying most people stuff from countries that I visit unless they personally ask me to get them something.
I like to get souvenirs that are useful. When I went to the National Center of Performing Arts in Beijing, I bought these realy pretty ballerina crystal earrings. Even though it can't really be a souvenir because it doesn't tell where it comes from, I still feel happy that I at least bought something.
But most of the time I buy food. Local delicacies.
I look for stuff that is not everywhere, and not tacky {case in point those little decorative plates} Last time I went to Europe I brought home, well alcohol {I was in Italy, Wine, lemoncello etc.....and Absinthe :D} Beautiful masks, perfume {I went to a perfumerie in France} and small, pretty things that I found in random shops. The only things I bought with place names were a couple shirts, a lighter for each country, and a shot glass..... Oh I guess I got a keychain from Monaco...
I adore shopping for souveneirs, I rarely get them though, just cuz my people don't travel lots.