Hidden Treasures-Which Souvenir Should I Get?

Hello,

Have you ever returned from a vacation and wished you had brought home something more special?  Perhaps much of what you saw was items from a souvenir shop or at the airport, because that was what you were expected to buy.  After all, that is what tourists do!

Personally, I consider myself a “wanderer” rather than a “tourist.”  Each day, I do not know precisely who or what the day will bring, but I am open to the possibilities.  How do I wander?  It begins by walking where people live, rather than where the hotels are.  This is why I love staying in an Airbnb.  These little apartments are nestled in neighborhoods that begin to create a vibe of the people who live there. Staying there also allows me to find the cool local coffee shops, restaurants, and boutiques that are nearby.

Some research into the place I am traveling to also helps me prepare for the journey.  I particularly enjoy watching YouTube videos created by local guides.  These locals are more “in the know” than other influencers who travel around for a living. I love it when they have a genuine relationship with a local restaurateur, bartender, artisan, or someone else who has a good story.  I also like to use YouTube for a better understanding of “what not to wear”.

This initial planning helps me determine some ideas of what I would like to bring back for gifts and for myself.   Artists, restaurant servers, bar tenders, retailers, and even neighbors are all opportunities to learn something new about the area.

I have four key factors to consider when selecting the treasures I bring home.  These are:

1. Size: They have to fit in my luggage or in an extra tote bag that I have brought specifically for this purpose.

2.  Sense of Place: They need to be made in the country that I have visited, and hopefully by someone that I have met.

3. Craftsmanship: They need to be made with skill and pride.

4. Story: I want to tell a story about how I found the item, a quirky little detail about the artist, or something memorable about why I chose this particular item.

Here are some items that fit my criteria:

Textiles: Many places have long, rich traditions of creating textiles.  To name just a few- scarves from France, block prints in India and Nepal, rugs in Turkey and Morocco,  and embroidery in Mexico and Peru.  These textiles are often handmade with pride and are usually quite affordable.  On my last trip to Mexico City, I purchased a large, black-and-white embroidered bedspread.  It had intricately beautiful handwork from the rural people of Oaxaca.  However, buyer beware: when I returned to the States, I learned that I had spent many more pesos than I had ever intended.

Art: Specifically, rollable art that has been made by someone I have met or from a gallery I have visited.  A few years ago, I met an artist with his easel on the banks of the Arno River in Florence, who created these beautiful architectural sketches in pen and watercolor.  His art represented Florence in a way that I could never describe in words.  On that same trip, I learned how to marbelize paper,  and even got to make the process myself!  On a trip to Nepal, I watched a young monk create an intricate mandala. It was a meditative process, and the final art is called a Thangka Painting.  The brushstrokes of a master are so tiny, and still perfectly symmetrical and without a visible error.  It was remarkable! All of these items have found a place on my travel art wall after being framed in a way that complements the art.

Wood Carvings and Bronze and Brass Castings: This item is a little tricky because it can easily become too heavy to carry back in my suitcase.  Many years ago, I found a book-sized carving of Buddha and a brass door knocker in Bhaktapur, Nepal.   This small village in Nepal has a rich history of wood carving dating back to the 1700s. Sadly, the town was mostly destroyed by an earthquake in 2015.  Many people were killed, and many of the wooden buildings are no longer there.  Having visited Nepal before and after the earthquake, I have felt profoundly moved to action to assist the country in small ways since then.

Clothes: I love discovering unique, high-quality clothing on my travels!  Japan has exceptional fashion in every way—the quality, the style, the natural materials —it was so hard to choose “what not to wear.”  The polite, kind service was precisely the proper attention to make me want to buy everything that I tried on.  My shopping spree for clothes in Japan has never been surpassed in any other place, but it was worth it.  So many of those clothes shine as my favorites in my closet.

Jewelry: Jewelry fits the size criteria.  It is easy to find the perfect bracelet or earrings as a gift to bring home.  I especially enjoy finding vintage pins.  These are surprising treasures that work well on a jean jacket, a scarf, or a backpack.    It is also usually easy to have conversations with vintage vendors, as they are eager to tell you about the piece. I found a lapis stick pin in Paris, and my mom found a Celtic knot pin in Scotland.

I hope these ideas spur some inspiration for what you will bring home on your next trip!  I cannot wait to hear about where you went, who you met,  and what you brought home.  (No, No-I am not passively asking for a gift-wink!)  Drop me a line @Stephanie Andrews and I will be sure to read!