Reusable grocery bags. Seriously. It’s a very practical item started because my ex was in awe of the ones our fancy grocery store had, so I brought a couple on a trip and gave them to our friends. The next year, stores at the other end had started using the same style bag so I didn’t need to bring any. But then we had to purchase some or pay for disposable bags (a reasonable ask). My friends gave me the bag with a big broccoli stem on it because me love broccoli. And it went on from there. I find the bags very handy because they are sturdy, can handle wet and dirty clothing, are the right size for toting a bunch of books and are stronger than other bags.
Now I have bags from many places and they are almost all in use. They are terrific for so many uses. And they are a very cheap souvenir.
I do kind of the opposite; I usually end up buying more things for other people than for myself. But I don’t have people asking me to get stuff for them, rather I try to do my Christmas shopping when I’m traveling. I figure it’s a good opportunity to get people unique gifts that they wouldn’t be able to get at home.
Ok. But that’s different than what was happening to us.
People were handing us goddamn shopping lists. And even though they were willing to pay for the stuff with the multiple people wanting shit we would have spent more than half our time shopping for others.
Then if we got stuff for one person and not another they’d get bucky on us.
Stop taking your brat to Disney World every year and book your own trip to Europe. It’s cheaper!
Years ago, the question about shopping lists for folks at home came up here:
As for me, I’ve always thought that it would not be appropriate to ask a friend going someplace to bring me something. But if they offer to, that’s another matter.
One time, a friend went to Cuba. He doesn’t smoke, but he knew I enjoyed a good cigar, and asked if I’d like a box of Havana cigars. Not as a gift; he made it clear that I’d pay him for them, but they’d be less expensive than what I was paying for them at home. I said “Yes” and told him the brand and size I’d like. When he returned, he had the box of cigars I had requested, told me what they cost, and I paid him the Canadian dollar equivalent in cash. (I’m in Canada, so the cigars were perfectly legal.)
But he asked, I said “yes,” and he delivered. That’s a lot different than saying “Bring me a box of cigars,” clear out of the blue.
Reminds me of the time a coworker asked me to get him a t-shirt when I went to London. Shortly after I returned, I heard him bitching to someone else about the one I chose for him. Yeah. You’re welcome…
I don’t think I’ve ever had someone demand I buy them something, though a co-worker did ask if I would please buy her Mickey Mouse ears and get them customized in her daughter’s name and she’d pay me back. I did and she did.
Rubber ducks are my go-to souvenir. I probably have around 40 at the moment.
I also buy clothes, given the chance, when visiting somewhere. Not tourist clothes, just clothes that I happen to need, even underwear. Shopping in foreign places is way more interesting than shopping at home, even, or maybe especially, at ordinary shops. Still have some girly boxers from the C&A in Paris that are way better than anything I’ve found in England.
My souvenirs are almost always things I buy when the need arises: pair of socks, padlock and chain, hairbrush, sandals, etc. Of course, they have no significance for anyone but me, and they’re so mundane that I’ll sometimes forget to remember where I bought them.
Most people wouldn’t consider it a real souvenir, but I like to get a book on a local topic, usually from some small local press that you’d have a hard time finding away from the site, even on Amazon. hours of fun, informative, and really does provide memories (which is what “souvenir” means).
I like this idea (despite my earlier snark) and would do it if I didn’t have over 1,000 books in my queue, but do you find this more difficult given the reduction in the number of bookstores these days? I haven’t noticed a lot of local author shelves, though more local interest ones.
I of course go into every bookstore possible when I travel, so I have a good sample size.
The thing about buying books from local authors reminded me, I like to buy something from a local artist, both for myself and as gifts for people. Often times gift shops will have smallish, unframed paintings and photographs for sale. And being flat they are really easy to pack.
I tend to go for photography myself, although I have bought paintings as gifts for others. On my walls I have:
A photo of the Golden Gate Bridge at sunset I got at an artist’s co-op in Bodega, CA on my trip to the coast last fall.
A photo of a gorgeous tropical bird and a flower taken by a local photographer on Kauai, Hawaii.
A photo of a couple taking a selfie in front of the Coney Island Wonder Wheel (yes, a photo of people taking a photo). I have no idea if the photographer had them pose like that of if he just managed to catch a spontaneous moment.
A scene with a giraffe and a zebra made from paper cutouts glued to a piece of wood that I got in Kenya.
I like to buy an inexpensive, but not kitschy, pair of nice earrings at some artsy or bohemian store. Then when I put them on in the morning I remember that I got them in Seattle or Hawaii or France, and it makes me smile.
