What’s your favourite souvenir?

[MelMel]

I seem to collect transport cards. Just checked my collection and I’ve got Amsterdam, London, Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Montreal, Seattle, Beijing, San Francisco, Vancouver, Shanghai, New York, Washington. Also local cards for Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Adelaide.
View attachment 253847
I know you can often return the card for a refund, but I like to keep them as a momento and an incentive to return.

Not something I would even normally consider a souvenir but last winter, in the depths of Melbourne‘s lockdown, I was wearing my down jacket on my daily one hour walk. When I put my hands in my pockets I felt something. It was a single use metro ticket from my trip to Rome— Christmas 2019. It bought a wistful smile to my face and it’s still in the pocket so I can “hold onto“ that memory

 

[Princess Fiona]

I am impressed Princess Fiona … they’re great. What’s your favourite?

The Queen one with the swear words.
It’s from NZ

 

[Franky]

I’m a sucker for a fridge magnet View attachment 253856

OMG as the millennials say….

 

[jonboixxx]

I like to obtain a piece of artwork from places I travel to, mostly paintings.
They are usually quality and decent, but occasionally, especially when I am short of time, I know they are kitsch or mass-produced, but still a nice momento.

When I finally go back to Hawaii, I now have the proper dimensions of the wall for which I wish to purchase an original poster from the store in Lahaina.

 

[kookaburra75]

I’m a sucker for a fridge magnet View attachment 253856

OMG as the millennials say….

We bought a new fridge a few weeks ago and we haven't had the opportunity to put the magnets back up. Given it's cold and wet today in Canberra, instead of rearranging my sock drawer I'll tackle the fridge

 

[Pushka]

We bought a new fridge a few weeks ago and we haven't had the opportunity to put the magnets back up. Given it's cold and wet today in Canberra, instead of rearranging my sock drawer I'll tackle the fridge

Oh don't tell Spurrier. On the other hand it might remind people that we can't travel, even interstate so might not go down so well.

 

[Townsend]

As a lover of US outlet stores, the other day I looked at what I was wearing and realised I was totally dressed from outlet stores. Useful souvenirs!

 

[JK1964]

We tend to go silly on souvenirs and try to get a decorative plate from each place if there is a nice one available to buy. But favourite is probably the Hakata doll Geisha) from Japan or miniature Terracotta Warrior.

 

[Lynda2475]

I like to buy locally made jewellery, clothes and bags (sometimes art works), they arent obvious souveniers but always remind me of travels whenever I wear/use/look at them. A pair of earrings or necklace or bracelet takes up virtually no space in your luggage and allows you to support local artists/crafts people.

My favourites are probably my handblown glass hummingbird pendant from Costa Rica, my Radley Bags & Wallets form London and my leather coat from Barcelona.

I also keep the playbills and/or ticket stubs from all the theatre performances and concerts Ive been to whilst travelling.

And like @Townsend I also have many clothes from US outlets (and retail stores).

 

[VPS]

So after much thought I realised that I tend to buy earrings. They are small, often inexpensive (sometimes not ) but often when I put them on I remember where they were purchased, who I was with and they give me a lot of pleasure.

 

[bPeteb]

We used to buy 'little' things but they very quickly became dust collectors and most are now away. These though are my favourite little things - from Greenland. Three Eriks and some Thule warriors



Like some of the AFF team we also purchase the occasional fridge magnet although they are now not allowed on the new fridge so have become rangehood magnets



Many years ago we cruised from Venice to Rio, calling in to Dakar on the way. Here we bought this piece of fabric that I built a light timber frame for



On our first trip to Japan we bought this mobile and the two travel posters from a market in Buenos Aires (the Eiffel one). I have these above my home office



but my favourite is this painting that we bought at the waterfront markets in Vila on a cruise to celebrate my 50th



We need more walls to host the art we've bought but we're going to eventually downsize, dramatically, and we have no idea where it will all go

 

[jb747]

I like to obtain a piece of artwork from places I travel to, mostly paintings.

The French didn't notice that she was missing....?

 

[C Sargent]

i collect fridge magnets, but i'm very fussy. they have to be beautiful and evocative, and that's not easy to find! none of this thick junky stuck on plastic stuff. My favourite is a 3D wooden cut out depiction of the Firenze duomo.

 

[AisleSeat]

You need to get to the Baltics. They have the cutest troll and Viking magnets.

Like this one?

 

[VPS]

i collect fridge magnets, but i'm very fussy. they have to be beautiful and evocative, and that's not easy to find! none of this thick junky stuck on plastic stuff. My favourite is a 3D wooden cut out depiction of the Firenze duomo.

Welcome to AFF - it took a while for you to make your first post though - pictures of said souvenirs are always welcome

 

[johnhab]

My favourite is a small Buddha I bought in Bangkok in about 1970. It’s been all around the world with me and still in good condition apart from losing the tip of his top knot. When I see it I’m reminded of old Bangkok, unrecognisable today.

 

[MARTINE]

Welcome All!

I did more lockdown sorting last weekend in the study.
I found the programs I kept from cultural events and this gave me so much joy. They’ve included:
- Program from Swan Lake at LaScala 2017
- Oneigin at Bolshoi 2019
- Chelsea Flower Show 2015
- Montreaux Music Festival 2013 (they put out printed daily newspapers every day of the festival about artists and events)
- Minack Theatre Cornwall stunning open air sea view performance of Chekhov‘s Seagull 2008

Other souvenirs are the downloadable maps we followed when hubby and I (who are British drama tragics) spent a week in UK finding spots from our favourite TV shows e.g. Henry Crabb‘s actual ‘Pie in the Sky’ restaurant in Hemel Hempstead (now a hairdressers), Victor of Dibleys Church (LOTS of dramas are set in Turville) and Port Isaac for Doc Martin. In the latter - due to my aching feet I rested in the coffee shop - and hubby went wandering off . Of course he found the set, met Martin Clunes for a lovely chat and brought me back the photographic proof!!

memories sustain us….

Post automatically merged: Jul 26, 2021

My favourite is a small Buddha I bought in Bangkok in about 1970. It’s been all around the world with me and still in good condition apart from losing the tip of his top knot. When I see it I’m reminded of old Bangkok, unrecognisable today.

Have you watched The Serpent on Netflix …?

 

[oznflfan]

~20 cm high eagle posed like sitting on a branch, carved out of Ironwood bought in Tijuana back in 1994.

 

[kookaburra75]

We bought a new fridge a few weeks ago and we haven't had the opportunity to put the magnets back up. Given it's cold and wet today in Canberra, instead of rearranging my sock drawer I'll tackle the fridge

Like some of the AFF team we also purchase the occasional fridge magnet although they are now not allowed on the new fridge so have become rangehood magnets

I found out on Saturday, that the same rule now applies in the Kookaburra Household - I might 'scratch' the new fridge. "It's just a fridge says I", MrsK raises an eyebrow at me, for such a thought. Unfortunately the rangehood is the wrong height and shape. I'm thinking I might have to spend several hundred dollars on a wine fridge, so I have the space to put the fridge magnets on.

 

[Seat0B]

Ugh. Loving this thread, but I may have to come clean on my souveniring over the past few decades.

Can there be some immunity provided for past crimes?

Head to the AFF confessional thread where I am sure you will find absolution - or non-judgemental company .

The AFF Hall of Shame (AKA The Confessional)

Forgive me, AFF, for I have sinned. I had a QF business booking HBA-SYD-CHC-MEL-HBA but the SYD-CHC leg was cancelled and I had to call up to arrange an alternative. The very nice Plat line lady tapped it in and looked for alternatives ... hmmmm she says. Its giving me Hobart - Melbourne -...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au